A CAMPAIGN to save a ‘well used’ playground which is earmarked for closure has been launched

Glamorgan Grove Park in Burnley, was one of eight playgrounds set to be closed by Burnley Council and was identified as a ‘low use’ site.

A petition and a Facebook page has been set up to encourage people to share their reasons for keeping the Gannow-based site.

Cllr Neil Mottershead, who is spearheading the campaign, said it is unfair on residents to close the playground.

He said: “It’s utterly ridiculous, the playground is still well used by lots of kids and their parents.

“We’ve asked for people to prove by sending in pictures of their children using the park and we have had lots come in.

“If it closed it would be a shame because where would the children get to play?

“They would have to go further away from home when they had somewhere right outside their doorstep.”

This comes as the council approved funding to refurbish 16 of the borough’s most used play areas with a £350,000 cash injection.

The council will provide £250,000 funding with the rest of the cash found through external grants.

Cllr Mottershead said: “We have asked the council if we could spend some of our ward opportunities funding to keep it open.

“We have spent almost £5,000 of the fund in that park.

“It paid for a set of swings, a big team swing and a dish roundabout toy.”

The other playgrounds set for closure include Helena Park in Bank Hall, Barley Grove Park in Brunshaw, Burns Street Park in Daneshouse, Partridge Hill Park in Gawthorpe, Baker Street park in Trinity, Healey Wood Park in Trinity and Richard Street Park in Bank Hall.

Among the playgrounds to be improved is Towneley Riverside, in Towneley Park, which is set to have £100,000 spent on it over the next eight years.

Queen’s Park in the Bank Hall area of the town will also receive £27,500, while the play area in Healey Wood Park, in Rosehill, will receive £17,500 to develop a combined toddler and junior play area.

Cllr John Harbour, the council’s executive member responsible for parks and play areas, said: “The executive fully considered a report on the council’s new play strategy when it meet on Tuesday, July 4.

“We have received some feedback and I will be making a further announcement shortly.”