PLANS to spend nearly £500,000 redeveloping children’s play areas in parks across Southampton have been put on hold, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Council chiefs have been told not to continue with its programme to improve 22 parks by the Government, which could take back a grant.

It is the latest round of cuts to hit youngsters in the city after the Daily Echo revealed last week how plans to develop five pre-schools which were allocated £160,000 funding from the Department of Education, may have to be abandoned.

It also comes as people are encouraged to make the most of their city centre green spaces in a national week-long initiative called Love Parks Week.

The council had been given £299,000 and £389,000 in the first two years of the play area refurbishment programme, which has so far seen 14 of the parks given a facelift.

But ministers have told the council this year’s £439,000 grant will have to be put on hold until they decide whether or not to claw back the funding by the end of August.

One park that could lose out is Houndwell Park, in the city centre, which has previously had plans approved for a play area specifically designed for children of all ages and abilities, including wheelchair-users.

Daily Echo: Click below to see a video of today's headlines in sixty seconds

The Spark Park play area was granted permission in 2008 and was due to replace the current fenced-off playground and include “various configurations of beam and net climbing structures, a giant stone slide with a variety of slope profiles, a rocky landscape incorporating pools, waterfalls, dams, spouts and a stream meandering towards a sandy island with hidden sculptural forms”.

Other parks that could be affected are Kent Street, Pat Bear Close, Ashurst Close, Imber Way, Inkerman Road, Newtown Adventure Play Area and Freemantle Common.

Arthur Jeffery, chairman of Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society, said many people would be devastated by the cuts to improve parks in the city.

“The society is very disappointed by these cuts but I can’t say we are surprised to hear about them,” he said.

“Cuts are being made |everywhere as the coalition government tries to make |savings and everything is going to be hit.”

Councillor Paul Holmes, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I am very disappointed to hear of this decision. We want to improve the standard of play areas across the city so this news comes as a big blow.

“We are talking to the Department of Education to see if we can still get funding for theses play areas and we expect to hear an answer by late August.”