6 days ago
Glasgow wildlife space denied funds 'for children's area'
Children's Wood in North Kelvin hit out at the council after claiming they were denied money "on a technicality".
The criteria require groups to have a "children's play area", which, according to officials, means a playground with equipment.
However, Alison Spurway, chair of the board of trustees at the Children's Wood, argued that their urban garden, where they also have community events, serves the same purpose.
She said: "It's just a different ethos.
"Children need to get messy. Here, they are safe but they can be adventurous.
"They can play freely like how we used to play when I was young."
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(Image: Colin Mearns) For this reason, they were disheartened to learn that they are not eligible for financial support from the Developer Contribution for Open Space fund.
Firms are required to contribute to this pot of money after building large developments.
The council then distributes it locally among organisations to maintain open amenity spaces, outdoor sports facilities, community gardens and children's play areas.
Alison continued: "If they are in a play park, going down the chute, what do they gain?
"It's not an exciting experience that's going to spark their imagination or get them to develop.
"Here, they climb trees, make mud pies and run in the grass. It gives them a completely different experience."
The group is asking Glasgow City Council for around £16,000, which would cover the cost of introducing running water and electricity to the well-used space.
(Image: Colin Mearns)
(Image: Colin Mearns)
She continued: "We would like it if the children playing in the dirt, making mud pies, could wash their hands after.
"We also want electricity in the shed. Right now, we have to keep a lot of the equipment in my basement because it gets mouldy.
"It would be good to have dry storage.
"We also would like to sharpen tools and use a PA system when we've got a community event."
Bosses also criticised the process of getting money, which has been stalling for three years.
The 79-year-old explained: "There's not an application process, one person decides 'that's not children's play' and that's it.
"It doesn't go anywhere else and there's no appeal process. There's nothing.
"I've been pushing at this since 2022.
"Glasgow City Council is sitting on a huge amount of money and they're not making it easy for groups like ours to get it.
"Where is that money going if it's not spent?"
(Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns)
The group is calling for the council to have a discussion with them about how they could receive some funding as the only community organisation in the area.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "There are different categories of developer contribution and each type of contribution is secured by a legal agreement on how funding can be spent.
"If funds are spent on initiative that fall outside the terms of the legal agreement, the developer is able to recover those funds.
"Organisers at the Children's Wood were advised they would be entitled for funding for their proposals through amenity funds.
'However, at this time there are no amenity funds available for this area of Glasgow.
'Contributions for a children's play equipment fund were available but the rules for this fund specify that money can only be spent on play equipment.
'Installing electricity and plumbing does not fit with the terms of the play equipment fund.
'The developer's contribution for children's play equipment that was available for this area earlier this year has been allocated for a play area in nearby Hotspur Street."
