Councillor blasts decision to withdraw playground funding

SOLIHULL Council has been accused of hypocrisy for axeing funding for a facility which hands out food to local kids while still paying for free meals for councillors before meetings.
Coun Mark Wilson (Green, Smith's Wood) has said that he has grave concerns about the decision to stop local authority support to Meriden Adventure Playground from September.
After a recent appeal to reverse the council decision failed, the facility is now on the hunt for alternative funding.
The committee admits that it will be a very difficult task in such a tight time-frame, but parents and volunteers have rallied round to help. The options available are due to be discussed further at the playground's annual general meeting next week.
Coun Wilson (pictured) described the facility as a vital hub within the community and said it would be "criminal" if it were forced to close.

"On the one hand the council is saying it is committed to making communities stronger and residents healthier, yet on the other it is shutting down important community facilities like this," he said.
"It's ironic that the council spends £60,000 giving councillors free meals before council meetings but can't find £20,000 needed this year to keep a playground open that provides hot meals to vulnerable children who otherwise go without."
His comments reopen an old argument about sit down meals available to members which erupted between the political parties in 2012.
At the time, the Green Party questioned whether the food could be justified at a time of spending cuts, while the ruling Conservative group said the convention made it easier for working people who had to travel straight from their day job to an evening meeting.