Parents hoping to attend meetings on the future of Angus playparks could be disappointed, as they are ”not planned” to be open to the public.
To save cash, Angus Council is proposing 51 of the county’s 100 playparks could be removed, with a loss of 171 pieces of equipment.
Consultation evenings have been arranged across all eight burghs, since afternoon meetings were criticised as inadequate during term time.
However, while group leaders and community councillors have asked for a large turnout at meetings, Angus Council has stated they are for ”invited representatives of community council and parent councils” only.
”These have not been planned as open, public meetings,” said a council spokeswoman.
Brechin stands to lose five of its seven playparks and local community councillors have asked residents to attend their meeting on December 13 en masse.
Convener Grahame Lockhart said: ”It is important the council officers and our own local councillors are aware of the depth of feeling towards the closures, with the negative impact these will have on our children.”
Brechin community councillor Eric Gray said: ”It’s parks like this we need to keep. As kids grow up, you want to give them a wee bit of freedom and it’s putting them to the park that’s the first stage of that.”
On Saturday The Courier reported how a day of action in six playparks was attended by dozens of parents and their families.
The co-ordinating group, Protect Our Parks, Save Our Swings, has collected more than 200 signatures in its campaign to save all the county’s facilities.
One member attended a meeting in Arbroath on Monday, at which the turnout was ”disappointing”.
A post on its Facebook page read: ”We really would encourage the people of Arbroath to attend the next one for their town on the 6th as the one tonight had a low turnout.”
Forfar mum-of-two Rhiannon Reid (33) said: ”We hope the council will start listening and realise how passionate people are about these valuable outdoor spaces.”
A public consultation has been extended to December 14.
The council spokeswoman said the online consultation is available at
angus.gov.uk/playparks
, or on paper from council Access offices and libraries.