Highland councillors across Caithness are delighted that the local authority has agreed to put in place a new strategy for the upkeep of local play parks.

At a Highland Council meeting last week, a motion from the Caithness Area Committee was put forward by Wick and East Caithness councillor Willie Mackay, representing the other local councillors, as a "starred item".

The item stated that the Caithness Committee "welcomed the place-based investment funds which have allowed local members to allocate one-off funding" to support investment in local play parks.

It added: "Whilst this is very welcome it does not satisfy the long term demand for a sustainable strategy and investment in our play parks. Caithness members request that Highland Council creates and implements a [council-wide] playground strategy that considers the needs and expectations of our communities and supports the active play, well-being and social activity of our children and their families."

Councillor Willie Mackay said: “We were delighted to get the support of all members in our proposal for a comprehensive Highland-wide playground strategy and we look forward to working closely with officers in moving forward.

"The benefits of active play among our young people cannot be underestimated. We need to do all we can to provide the investment needed so young people in our communities have facilities they can enjoy for years to come.”

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The Caithness Committee already agreed to allocate up to £40,000 for each of the two wards in the area (£80,000 in total) towards play park refurbishment/repairs/improvements with an emphasis on those parks in a rural setting, with a view to seeking match funding from local grant providers and local groups to complement this allocation.

Wick and East Caithness councillor Raymond Bremner, who originally mooted the proposal in August, said he was delighted it was accepted at the Highland Council meeting. He added: "[The] council will now be obligated to put in place a proper Playpark Strategy. That, as far as I'm concerned, is really welcome news.

"My hope is that it will obligate the council to work with communities to best provide for play parks, their upkeep and sustainability for the future. It’s another example where Caithness is making its voice heard."

Cllr Bremner added: "Over the past couple of years it was shocking that local officers were telling us that they literally had only pennies to spend on the maintenance of local play parks – a legacy of previous decisions to cut budgets. That’s not acceptable and certainly can’t be sustainable given the expectations of our local communities and their wellbeing.

"The agreement to allocate £40,000 for local play parks in Wick and East Caithness is welcome but it’s a one-off amount. The fact that the motion came at the same time as the announcement of the Scottish Government’s near quarter of a million for Highland Council to invest in play parks, was even better news.

"I hope that the council will move quickly now to implement an effective play park strategy and stop the degeneration of these vital areas in our communities.”

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