A government green spaces taskforce report is warning of a two-tier culture of leisure in Britain as people pay for private health centres in preference to using run-down public parks.

New Vision for Future of Parks and Green Spaces, recommends a £500m injection to revive urban green spaces and regenerate social trust and calls for a national agency to locate park funding mechanisms and give advice.

The report claims the privatised world of leisure is in part expanding due to people's fear of public spaces and frustration at the standard of maintenance. The £500m would be in addition to a higher budget for park maintenance.

According to official estimates Britain has 27,000 urban parks, spanning 143,000 hectares, but no umbrella policy is in place for proper management. The report suggests that small parks or squares could be handed to local communities to maintain.

The minister responsible for parks and green spaces, Sally Keeble, says the report fills a chronic vacuum: 'We will take its findings very seriously, putting this issue where it belongs at the heart of government policy.'

Keeble has proposed 'immediate' government action to create a steering committee; a bursary scheme to fund 'enablers' to work with certain local authorities, voluntary and private sector organisations to develop local strategies for improving green space; and demonstration projects to promote 'good practice' in green spaces. Details: www.dtlr.gov.uk