More than a thousand small playing fields have been lost - Foster

10.38.06pm GMT Thu 2nd Nov 2006

More than a thousand small playing fields across the country have disappeared since 2001 according to figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats.

Answers to Parliamentary Questions tabled by Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster MP show that 1,017 planning applications have been approved in the last five years.

Under current regulations, Sport England has to be consulted on all plans to develop playing fields of 0.4 hectares or more - the size of a football pitch. However in 2002 John Prescott promised to extend this rule to help protect smaller pitches.

Four years later that change has still not taken place, and the answer to another of Don Foster's questions has revealed that any consultation on the issue will not take place until next year.

Commenting, Don Foster said "In 2002, John Prescott promised to change the rules to protect small playing fields.

"Four years later we still don't have protections for small playing fields. Small playing fields may not be suited for 11-a-side football or hockey, but when used for informal games and play during break times they have a huge impact on keeping children active.

"The Government must urgently introduce regulations to halt the sale of smaller fields if this is not to be yet another broken promise to add to the Prescott legacy."