COUNCILLORS in Basingstoke are split right down the middle over whether the brakes should be put on the play area blitz in the borough.

As the debate over children's playgrounds hotted up this week, The Gazette asked Basingstoke and Deane councillors the question: "Do you think the breaking up of the play areas should be halted until there has been more consultation - or should it go ahead?"

A total of 18 councillors said the programme of demolition of the playgrounds should be stopped immediately, 19 said it should continue - and nine refused to answer the question. Among them was Labour group leader Pam Lonie who adamantly refused to choose one side or the other.

The remaining 11 councillors were either on holiday or unavailable - including the man ultimately responsible for the decision, Cabinet member for Recreation and Culture, Cllr John Shaw, who is on honeymoon.

Most of those who called for a halt were Conservative councillors - but there were exceptions.

Labour councillor for Winklebury Gary Watts said: "I think it should be stopped, basically. I think it's just a knee-jerk reaction in the first place to turn round and say we have got this consultants report we have had since 1994 and we have got to do something about it - where has it been for the last seven years?

"I know I'm not toeing the party line here but I'm not very happy about it at all."

Tory councillor for Tadley Robert Musson said: "I think we should carry on. I am a parent and one of my children was knocked out falling off a rocking duck in a play area - not a council one but in a pub.

"As a parent, I have got to say it is good to actually put down a surface that is safe and as a parent I also want play areas.

"The problem is we are knocking all these play areas down but we are not replacing all of them.

"It's a question of cash - but I think we should find the money to replace all of them."

Conservative group leader Cllr John Leek said: "I had assumed proper consulation had taken place before the decision was taken, but it is becoming increasingly clear it was rather less than we expected.

"From what I am hearing, I think there has been inadequate consultation so there should be a halt until more consultation has taken place."

Labour group deputy leader Cllr Sean Keating said: "I think because we have already issued contracts for this and because we have a safety report which says we must do something, we have a duty and an obligation to carry on."

Labour council leader Rob Donnelly said: "I think it should go ahead. The decision was made by council and we have to follow through. We undertook to do it quickly and we are. All the contracts for the work have been let."

Popley Labour councillor Jane Frankum said: "As a long time campaigner for children, I think children's safety comes first. Once we know there are risks there is nothing else to do but to carry on with removing equipment.

"This was a cross-party decision when it originally came before the committee - it was a unanimous decision. Now it is getting political."

Most councillors admitted our question was difficult to answer.

But Labour group leader Pam Lonie, who represents Norden, insisted: "I would rather not say yes or no to the question. It's very clearly a balancing act to get it right.

"What's been very, very unfair is that people are being critical of the council representatives. They have been made to do a U-turn in the first place to follow public opinion - and now public opinion is going the other way.

"I am not prepared to say yes or no."