The construction of two new play areas in Carpenders Park and South Oxhey will have to wait for a decision to be made by the Government, despite being granted planning permission and a costly consultation.

Three new play areas were given planning permission by Three Rivers District Council last Thursday.

A play area behind 24 Ashburnham Drive, in South Oxhey, will feature nine pieces of equipment, including an aerial runway, basket swing, trampoline, toddler swings and climbing frame.

A play area behind 47 Oulton Way, in Carpenders Park, will include an aerial runway, basket swing, and large climbing unit.

Finally a playground and outdoor gym, accessed between 36 and 38 Hayling Road, in South Oxhey, will be made of 17 pieces of equipment including a pendulum basket swing, aerial runway, toddler swings, two main climbing units and sand pit.

However, the fate of Oulton Way and Hayling Road hangs in the balance as £104,602 of funding has been withdrawn by the Government.

In 2009 TRDC successfully bid for the money from the Government's “Playbuilder” scheme to help pay for new parks.

However, In July of this year TRDC officers received a letter from Hertfordshire County Council announcing the scheme was no longer affordable.

The money would have been used in addition to funding from Three Rivers District Council (TRDC), which now hopes to build as far as its budgets allow.

Chris Whately-Smith, TRDC portfolio holder for leisure, said: “We are still waiting for a response as to the funding issue from the Department of Education.

“The parks will be progressed within the budgets we have, to a point where we can go ahead if we acquire funding, as planning permission has now been granted.

“They are all good schemes. The popularity and huge success of the Barton Way play area shows what can be achieved.”

According to a report to TRDC by Charlotte Masters, active communities officer, Ashburnham Drive and Oulton Way play areas would cost £2,000 a year to maintain, and the Hayling Road park £3,000.

Due to the uncertain future TRDC has not formally awarded the contract but has entered into a design stage agreement at a cost of £3,150.