The Government is still powerless to prevent the sale of playing fields, claims the Central Council of Physical Recreation, which has just published a register of sites under threat.
School standards minister Stephen Byers is having talks with his colleagues at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to tackle the problem. The rate of disappearing fields disappearing under concrete has accelerated since Labour pledged to save them when elected. In all, 409 sites are for sale - a 69 per cent increase in the past six months.
The CCPR points out that more than 23,000 primaries and 4,400 secondaries need playing fields to fulfil national curriculum requirements.
