CHILDREN in small communities could lose their playgrounds if councillors approve a list of closures next week.

Officers from Wear Valley District Council's community services department will recommend closing 32 playgrounds at a meeting next Monday, after a review of poor quality playgrounds.

In January, the Health and Safety Executive presented a critical report on two accidents involving ten-year-old boys playing on a Combat Cableway at the Jane Armstrong Park, in Bishop Auckland, last summer. The boys each broke an arm when they landed off safety matting.

The executive said the council had failed in its duty to protect children and warned that further failings could lead to court action.

Last year, the council was fined £10,000 after badly maintained swings fell on a Sunniside boy, injuring his head.

Now officers are advising that there are only resources for inspecting and maintaining 26 playgrounds. The council has 55 play areas, with a new one due to open in Willington Town Park later this year, funded by Government children's agency SureStart.

The existing £41,000 budget will allow for a seven-day service, as required by British Standards.

Under threat are playgrounds at: Westcott Drive, Auckland Park; Main Street, Close House; Coronation allotments; Coronation school; Leasingthorne; Middlestone Village green; Henknowle Recreation Ground; Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland; Greenfields Road, Bishop Auckland; Dunelm Chare, Escomb; St Cuthbert's Walk, South Church; Riverside, South Church; Toronto Recreation Ground; Fountain Square, St Helen Auckland; Challenor Way, St Helen Auckland; New Street, West Auckland; Fir Tree Recreation Ground; Helmington Row Recreation Ground; High Grange; North Bitchburn Recreation Ground; Sunniside Recreation Ground; Moorland Close, Sunnybrow; Armoury Field, Willington; Cedar Crescent, Willington; two from Alpine Way, Deerness Estate and Pennine Way, Tow Law; Burtree Ford, Cowshill; Field Row, Crawleyside; Pleasant Row, Daddry Shield; Eastgate Recreation Ground; Bondisle, Stanhope; and Westgate Recreation Ground