A £1 MILLION windfall is set to revive Poole’s play areas but could leave some facing closure, it is claimed.

At least 22 of the town’s 46 playparks will be refurbished with the government grant, involving “complete or substantial replacing of old equipment”.

However, talk of “rationalisation” of the play areas in a council report has raised fears for the future of some of them.

The Borough of Poole’s Conservative administration said, at worst, some areas may have to be relocated near to their current spot, but vehemently denied closures.

But Mike Brooke, leader of the Lib Dem opposition in Poole, said: “Rationalisation implies closures.

“If you are going to relocate the areas, you have to find the open space to do so.

“Many areas are going to get funding but others could fall through the gap.”

Reference to a “potential revenue saving on inspections” suggested that a scaling down of the number of play areas was imminent, added Cllr Brooke.

Bournemouth council recently drew up a list of 18 play areas it feels are under-used and could be sold off for housing. But Cllr Peter Adams, the cabinet portfolio holder for leisure, dismissed accusations of a similar closure programme in Poole as “scaremongering”.

He said: “If the area is in somewhere like Poole Park, it can easily be relocated within the same park.

“But we won’t move an area if we can’t. There is no hidden agenda.”

Areas such as Turlin Moor, Newtown and Merley are among those likely to receive a chunk of Poole’s £1m grant.

Another dozen play areas have already been upgraded, which would leave question marks hanging over the 12 parks not yet upgraded or picked out for a refurbishment. The £1.1m grant is part of the government’s Playbuilder scheme, aimed at transforming the country’s play facilities.