DEFENDERS of open spaces are calling on the government to insist that local authorities have a duty to provide and maintain parks and community areas.

It follows a decision by the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Committee to reject the idea proposed by the Open Spaces Society.

The OSS believes that the committee’s refusal to introduce such a duty was a missed opportunity to help protect parks.

Nicola Hodgson, the society’s case officer, said: "As a discretionary service, parks are put to the back of the funding queue, the more so now in the current climate of budget cuts.

"We call on the government to go further than the committee’s report and to place a statutory duty on local authorities to provide, monitor, manage and maintain parks and open spaces."

The Open Spaces Society was concerned about the increase in the number of events being held in parks and the impact on local communities who may be unable to gain access to large areas in the park for long periods.

People were often barred while events were set up, run and cleared away, particularly during the summer. months.

"The report acknowledges that parks and green spaces are treasured assets, often central to the lives of communities," she said.

"So it's very disappointing that the committee concludes that it 'may be appropriate at times for local authorities to grant exclusive access to a park … to particular user groups or organisations' and that it may 'be appropriate for local authorities to charge for some uses of a park'.

"It is some comfort that the report says that 'exclusive use or charging must not disproportionately affect or hinder access to the park for other users'."

The society launched its Save Our Spaces campaign to tackle the mounting pressure not just on parks but on public open spaces throughout England and Wales.

A Craven council spokesman said: “Craven district council is leading the way in ensuring its own parks have a healthy future, despite concerns raised nationally about the future of public parks due to a lack of funding.

“Aireville Park, owned by Craven District Council, is a fantastic resource in the town of Skipton, and we have been working with Friends of Aireville Park to bring in funding for ambitious projects including a new skatepark and pump track. Together we are now launching a £100,000 fundraising drive to create a new children’s play area at the park.

“We have also been able to help fund other parks in the district through community grants and ward member grants, and Craven has a number of parks of which it can be proud. We know how important these spaces are to villages, towns and communities. Craven District Council is demonstrating that it is possible to fund and maintain successful, thriving parks despite huge financial challenges.”