NEARLY 40 Teignbridge play parks are in line for improvements, with developers and house-builders footing the £3million bill.

The list of children’s play parks from Ashburton to Teignmouth was endorsed by members of the Teignbridge Council overview and scrutiny committee, with a five-year plan to carry out the work.

A report to the committee said 37 ageing council-owned play parks are likely to need improvements over the next five years, going beyond day-to-day repairs and maintenance.

The programme will be funded with around £2million of Section 106 money and £1million from the Community Interest Levy, both of which are funds collected from developers who are required to hand over cash for community projects in areas where they are building.

Local communities will be consulted, and all the play parks will be assessed.

Some of the play parks are also included in a list of green spaces which the council is considering getting rid of, either to the local town or parish council or to be sold on the open market.

Teignbridge has apologised for the alarm caused when the list was published without warning, but says it is only doing its legal duty to advertise the names of the sites it is looking to get rid of.

They include Courtney Park at Newton Abbot, the town’s ‘gateway’ park opposite the railway station. Teignbridge says it is looking at ways to hand the parks back to town and parish councils, as well as potentially selling some land on the open market.

District councils up and down the country have been handing assets to town and parish authorities ahead of the forthcoming Local Government Reorganisation, which will see them abolished in favour of large unitary authorities.

There are fears that the new, larger authorities will not be able to afford the upkeep of some assets, and disposing of them is a way of safeguarding them.

On the subject of play parks, Cllr Colin Parker (Lib Dem, Buckland and Milber) said: ‘We don’t want assets to be transferred in a deteriorating condition.

‘We want them fit for purpose rather than pouting heavy burdens on towns and parishes.’

The full list of play parks in the programme is: Ashburton – Barnsey Close; Cleder Place; Westabrook; Home Park; Miners Close and Recreation Ground. Buckfastleigh – Market Close; Glebelands and Duckspond. Chudleigh – Palace Meadow. Dawlish – Sandy Lane; Newlands; St Marys Cottages; two parks at Third Avenue. Exminster – Berrybrook Meadow; Gissons and Miller Way. Heathfield – Prince Rupert Way and Browhill. Kingsteignton – St Columba Close; 22 Kingsleigh Park, off Gate Tree Close and Priscott Way.

Newton Abbot – Chichester Way; Osborne Park; Powderham Road; Bakers Park; Courtenay Park; Sandringham Park; Hamilton Drive and Sandford View. Starcross – Staplake Gardens, Brickyard Lane. Teignmouth – Coombe Valley; Broadmeadow; Lower Kingsdown Road; The Den and Fourth Avenue.