CHILDREN on an Oxford estate are still waiting to hear if their £800,000 play park will ever be built, as the Government remained tight-lipped on revised funding.

As reported in the Oxford Mail, the Department of Education froze funding for the Play Barton project in July, just a week after youngsters had been promised the scheme was safe.

Whitehall officials promised a decision “by August”, but Oxfordshire County Council, and the children of Barton, still remain in the dark.

Despite the funding question-mark, planning permission for the ambitious scheme – comprising indoor and outdoor play areas based on three sites – will be discussed by Oxford City Council’s north east area committee on Tuesday.

Van Coulter, city councillor for Barton and Sandhills and trustee of the project, said he was hopeful the Government would honour the deal, adding that a significant amount of the grant had already been spent on design, planning and consultation.

He said: “Realistically, I think it will be safe, having spent what they have already spent on the project.

“We also have four staff members employed on various initiatives and that has all come out of the £800,000.”

Mr Coulter said the project would play a vital role for one of the most deprived areas of the country.

He added: “Children who learn to play together acquire skills that transfer into the classroom.

“This is not just a play scheme, it will transfer into education.”

Education Secretary Michael Gove told the county council to halt the project in July – even though contracts were in place – as part Whitehall’s ongoing search for savings.

Government officials have spent the last few weeks reviewing contractual liabilities and preparatory work relating to the scheme provided by County Hall officers.

Department of Education spokesman Charlotte Redman said the decision on revised funding would be made by the end of August and that had always been the intended timescale.

She added: “We are currently talking to local authorities across the country to determine the level of play capital funding for this year that has either not already been spent, or is not yet contractually committed, and which can be saved.

“We’ve asked local authorities to put on hold projects where contracts have been entered into but where works have not yet begun.

“We hope to be able to progress these sites subject to future affordability.”