Playing Fields Still Being Lost Every Week, Lib Dem Figures Reveal

10.06.00pm GMT Sat 19th Jan 2008

Planning applications are a threat to sporting provision for communities

Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show that playing fields deemed vital to local sport are being lost at a rate of one a week. The latest government figures show that on average 843 planning applications for playing fields are accepted each year, including 57 applications that Sport England believe constitute a 'threat' to sporting provision for surrounding communities.

"This Government is failing to live up to its promise to protect playing fields. It's a travesty that the nation's playing fields legacy is being sold off under our noses. The sad fact is that these figures only show half the picture. This Government promised to protect our smaller playing fields but five years later we're still waiting" said Don Foster MP