Councils consider volunteer run parks

Parks and open spaces in Exeter could increasingly be managed by community groups as local authorities receive less and less funding, the City Council has announced.

Exeter City Council has invited groups and individuals across the city to discuss opportunities for local management or ownership of key areas of public open space in Exeter in the near future.

The council hopes the initiative will see local groups wanting to be more 'hands-on' and have more control of parks and green spaces in their communities.

The meeting comes after the City Council announced that its funding from the government had been slashed by 13.6%.

Deputy Leader, Rachel Sutton, said: "As a Council we're doing everything possible to protect key frontline services in the face of ever decreasing government funding.

"That's why we need to think smart and work with local groups in order to maintain the green lungs of the city which are so well loved and used."

Cllr Sutton stressed that the meeting was the first step in a lengthy process to see how community groups could get more involved.

"We already have some great examples in the city of local groups getting involved in their own patches. Parks Watch has helped to raise money to improve a number of parks in Exeter. Their passion and enthusiasm has helped tap in to grant funding and has led to the delivery of better park facilities for young and old alike.

"We've also had a number of football clubs that have stepped in to take over the management of local football pitches and they are happy to have the opportunity to manage the space in a way that meets their needs," added Cllr Sutton.

"Whilst we would like more money from the government to be able to maintain these facilities, we need to be realistic about the future and view this situation as an opportunity for local people to get more involved."

The meeting takes place at the Corn Exchange on 26 February between 6pm and 9pm and whilst anyone is welcome to attend, people are asked to contact Dawn Rivers, Community Involvement Officer, on 01392 265531 or email dawn.rivers@exeter.gov.uk to register their interest or find out more information.