A SIX-YEAR-OLD Crediton girl who started a petition to try to save her local play area from closure has presented it to Cllr Frank Letch, Crediton Mayor, who is also a Mid Devon District Councillor.

Olivia Hubber of Beech Park started the petition after reading a notice on the play area gate.

Mid Devon District Council, which owns many play areas across the district, has launched an extensive review of the council-owned play areas.

It has identified that on some estates there appears to be what it describes as “an over provision of sites”.

Faced with an ever-reducing budget, the district council proposes to close some under-used play areas to allow the limited resources to be spent on play areas which attract greater use.

Cllr Neal Davey, MDDC’s cabinet member for street scene, said: “To help us determine which play areas should be closed, we have set up an on-line survey which we would encourage all interested people to complete.”

It has identified 27 play areas for possible closure and a notice has been displayed at the entrance of each giving details of how to complete the on-line survey which can be found on the website: www.middevon.gov.uk/getinvolved or via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/playareas .

The survey should be completed by mid-August.

The results will be reported to the council’s managing the environment policy development group when it meets in September and a recommendation made on which play areas should be closed.

Olivia says she uses the play area two or three times a week and added that it is used by children from the area after school each day.

The play area contains just four swings, a bench and rubbish bin.

There is parking for residents in front of the play area.

The Landscore Primary School pupil said: “Everyone I have spoken to is against the closure of the play area.

“More equipment would be nice as well.”

Olivia has collected more than 60 signatures and this week handed over her petition collected from fellow users of the play area, neighbours and school friends, including she said proudly, her teacher at Landscore Primary School.

She thanked her head teacher who had put details about her petition in her school newsletter, which attracted more people to her campaign.

Olivia’s father, George, said that in the past the play area was used for social events and fetes, but none have taken place recently.

He previously urged people to sign his daughter’s petition, fearing that the play area could be sold for housing.

A neighbour also explained that a gas main passes under the play area and he believed it would not be suitable for housing.

Cllr Letch said he would present the petition to a Mid Devon District Council officer or Cllr Davey in the near future.

Other local play areas at risk include Fernworthy Park at Copplestone, Fulda Crescent, Spinning Path Gardens and Greenway in Crediton, Greenaway at Morchard Bishop, Spindleberry at Chulmleigh and Godfreys Gardens and St Martin’s Close in Bow.