LIB DEM PRESIDENT PRAISES CHILDREN'S PLAY ASSOCIATION

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Apr 2008

Simon Hughes MP, President of the Liberal Democrats*, and city MP Sandra Gidley today dropped in on an Easter Play Scheme in Swaythling to praise their good local work and to promote the activities of such groups across the city.

Southampton Children's Play Association provides free, open access play activities for children aged 5 - 12 years in various locations across the city. However, the group in St. Mary's Parish Hall in Wessex Lane was faced with possible closure recently after local Tories supported savage cuts to the groups' budget. Sandra and Simon were told how local Liberal Democrat councillors fought to save the centre, before getting their hands on some play-dough and joining the kids.

Commenting during the visit, Simon Hughes MP said:

"I'm so pleased to see that this wonderful play scheme has been saved.

"Working parents across Southampton need more safe and reliable groups like this that they can leave their children with - not fewer. How the Conservatives, who claim to be a family-orientated party could wish to cut funding to such groups is astonishing.

"Play is such an important part of any child's life. It helps develop social skills, a sense of imagination and of course, fun! To deprive these children of such services would have been nothing short of criminal."

Sandra Gidley added:

"I pay huge a tribute to Cllr Ann Milton who worked so hard to save groups like this one in Swaythling, and to the all the staff of the Southampton Children's Play Association, who help parents and children right across the city.

"Local Liberal Democrats would like to see local children's services improve across the board. Indeed, if members of the public want to see more good local service like these and not Tory cuts, then I trust they will make their voice heard on 1 May."

Simon Hughes MP and Sandra Gidley MP with the children of Southampton Children’s Play Association in St. Mary’s Parish Hall, Swaythling

ENDS