CUTBACKS in holiday play schemes could save Newport council more than £26,000, according to a new report.

Summer schemes in Tredegar Park, Maindee, Stow Hill and Lliswerry, will be cut from four hours a day for four weeks to two hours a day for two weeks, while no schemes will be run at Lysaghts park due to the proximity of one at the nearby Mary Dunn playing fields in Lliswerry.

The Duffryn play club will also be scrapped because numbers are inconsistent and staff have experienced problems with anti-social behaviour including thefts and damage to vehicles, the report says.

Nine full day schemes for children aged between five and 12 will continue in Caerleon, St Julians, Malpas, Gaer, Maesglas, Moorland Park, Rogerstone, Rhiwderin and Somerton, councillor Cllr Mike Hamilton, cabinet member for continuing learning and leisure decided.

Consultation is currently taking place about the future of Maesglas after school play club, but it will at least continue until the end of the July term.

Parents whose children attend play schemes at Moorland Park hit out at the council’s proposals to cut some services in a bid to save £63,000 to balance the 2011/12 budget.

They said the play scheme helped their children develop and was a vital free child care service available to parents who had no other alternative.

Last month the council agreed the Moorland Park play club would remain.

All local authorities have a statutory duty to provide play opportunities and Newport council’s provision is supported by a number of grants including one from charity Cymorth, which supports weekly play club during term times as well as play schemes in the summer, October, February and Easter.