Furious parents are fighting back against efforts by Perth and Kinross Council to close down their local park.
Residents of Matthews Drive have reacted angrily to letters stating that play equipment would be removed within a matter of weeks.
They claim they have never been given the opportunity to speak out against the move, which is part of an extensive cost-cutting programme.
Five parks in the Tulloch area of Perth have been targeted, with the plans for Matthews Drive sparking a major outcry.
One concerned parent contacted The Courier in a desperate bid to force the local authority to give them more time to secure the play area’s future.
Fi Penman said her two children, Cassy (8) and seven-year-old Ben, would have to walk almost a quarter of a mile to get to the nearest park on Mathieson Drive.
”I certainly wouldn’t let them go there on their own,” she said. ”It’s too far from home and I wouldn’t feel comfortable having them where I can’t hear or see them.
”At least with the park on our street, our children are where we can keep an eye on them and know if someone’s there who shouldn’t be.”
She dismissed a statement from the local authority that claimed there was ”not sufficient interest” to save the play area.
Fi and partner Alan Hamilton, as well as a number of other Matthews Drive parents, believe no proper efforts were made to consult residents.
She continued: ”If I had been aware of any meetings, I would have been there, without a doubt. The first I heard of anything was when this letter came through my door this week and a lot of people are saying the same thing.
”All this means now is that we don’t have the time to fight against the decision that we would have liked. We need space to find out what our options are and how we can keep the park open.”
One of the ideas mooted by Fi is for the community to take on responsibility for the play area something which the council said there was no interest in.
She is hoping that a final decision can be delayed until they find out more about the costs involved.
A Facebook campaign Save the Matthews Drive Play Park has attracted almost 100 supporters and the local children have created posters pleading for their park, which they have decked in bunting.
A spokesman from Perth and Kinross Council said closing 19 playparks across the local authority area would allow those remaining to be properly maintained within the available budget.
”The play area at Matthews Drive is one which will close. There were a number of community meetings earlier this year, where residents were invited to come forward if they were interested in taking on the maintenance and management of this play area.
”Regrettably, there was not sufficient interest from the community to form a group to undertake this.”