PROTESTERS angry at the installation of new play equipment on Alexandra Park have become the latest to employ “town green tactics”.
The bid to recognise the Parkstone park as a town green could hold up any development.
It follows similar approaches from residents living close to Branksome Rec and Baiter Park and the cricket pitch site in Wimborne.
The residents near Alexandra Park are unhappy at the way Poole council has pushed through the plans for the new play gear in their area.
In a letter to the council’s chief executive, Sue Hockey, one of the residents who opposed the plans, described the consultation process as “a sham”.
She even alleged “manipulation” of consultation results in the public domain could “be seen to be fraudulent”.
The council has always maintained the process was full and fair.
Town green status would offer the park greater protection from development.
But the council said any bid would probably be too late to stop the installation of the new £60,000 play equipment.
Clive Smith, the council’s head of leisure services, said: “With work on the project due to restart in the next few days it would not be halted should an application be submitted.
“The project was put on hold and residents concerns were carefully considered, leading to amend-ments being made to the scheme.”
Mr Smith also warned that town green status could block future improvements for the park.
The Alexandra Park play equipment, which includes a zip wire and a rebound wall, will be funded by the government’s £1 million Playbuilder scheme.
Protesters insist the plans were pushed through to ensure the deadline for receiving the funding was met.
