Alexandra Park protesters in Poole use "town green tactics" (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Alexandra Park protesters in Poole use "town green tactics"
9:30am Monday 15th March 2010 in
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.
Comments(25)
stakeholder1
says...
10:37am Mon 15 Mar 10
I had a look at the 'amendments' to the plan however and it looks like the rebound wall is now nearer the houses and the public paths!!!
Can anyone shed any light on why this change was made?
ctrewyou
says...
11:51am Mon 15 Mar 10
Registering as a town green willl only waste many thousands of pounds, and everybodys time and effort. The only people who will benefit will be a bunch of solicitors, and I would rather my council tax was spent on something better. There will be no loss of green space.
All the children and adults I know are very excited about the proposals. It seems a shame that a few residents seem determined to stop this going ahead, and wasting everyone's time and the council's (our) money. You would think they were proposing to build a power station in the park.
The scaremongering about a bit of astroturf and a rebound wall is beyond belief. Astroturf is artificial grass, you can do everything on it that you could do on real grass. It is not taking anything away from anyone. The area as it stands can hardly be called 'grass', more like a brown area of scrubby tufts and dirt. You would think it was a pristine lawn. Astroturf will improve the look, feel, and quality of the area as it is now. Also, it is not the only bit of flat grass in the park.
How noisy will the rebound wall be? Actually nobody knows. But people opposed to the scheme assume it will be really noisy and disruptive.
Please keep this in perspective, we are talking about 3 pieces of play equipment being built, which will not adversley affect the enjoyment of the park for anyone but will give a lot of children a lot of enjoyment.
*The reason the wall has been moved is because some people objected to it where it was originally proposed. It would have been better left where it was originally proposed, next to the hedge.*
stakeholder1
says...
12:34pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Also, did you ever take part in any litter picks in Alexandra Park? Beer cans, dirty needles, condoms etc?
Were you involved in the community fundraising in 2000, that helped buy the newest play equipment in the park in partnership with the council?
Are you unable to have your back windows open at night in the summer due to noise from the park in the early hours?
Have you ever kept an eye on the park - reporting vandalism etc?
Please do not label the community closest to the park 'whingeing oafs' - not only is that offensive, it is extremely misinformed.
A great number of people are against the proposals - parents, residents and young people (who by the way did not ask for a rebound wall - check the council's own consultation report).
TinyLegacy
says...
1:52pm Mon 15 Mar 10
stakeholder1
says...
3:08pm Mon 15 Mar 10
ctrewyou
says...
4:34pm Mon 15 Mar 10
The local residents have been consulted, and some people unfortunately dont like the outcome, and are using any tricks they can to get the project stopped. That is not fair, and standing in front of diggers is a good example of anti-social behaviour, preventing people going about their lawful business.
The rebound wall is, actually, a wall. How much space does a wall take up? It will take up a tiny amount of space, and the astroturf can be used by anybody who uses the area now. It can still be used for all sorts of games, picnics, or whatever. Astroturf is artificial grass, it will improve the existing space, and is not taking anything away from anybody. And it is not the only flat piece of grass in the park, please be accurate.
What are the grounds for concern about a wall 'attracting noise' at night? You cant play football at night, so it is hardly likely to be an issue.
It's not really relevant where people live, but actually, I live about 100m from the park entrance, and use it pretty much every day. I have picked up litter etc, and kept an eye on the park. It is really no different from any other park in Poole with regard to anti-social behaviour or disturbance.
And, I repeat, a lot of residents are in support of this project, I dont want the views of the 'silent majority' to be drowned out by a vocal minority. Please go ahead with the town green application, a lot of solicitors need the money, and they will be the only people who will benefit. And the only people who will lose out will be local children.
nigglygrilly
says...
5:07pm Mon 15 Mar 10
There will always be people who get campaigns together to protest or those who band together to campaign for works proposed to be carried out wherever you are.
There is no easy answer and, I guess, the majority should be the ones who triumph in a democracy, however, that will diplease the minority who will still continue to whine and whinge whatever!
All I would ask is that whenever the media reports on these things, that they present an unbiased report so that boths sides of the argument are heard and considered.
BH10et
says...
5:34pm Mon 15 Mar 10
stakeholder1
says...
5:39pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Only a handful of residents received a letter and a plan of the proposed work in January 2010 - a month after a resident stopped the workmen installing the rebound wall in December 2009. Residents asked for a meeting in December 2009 and again in February 2010. On the 3rd March 2010 a poster went up on the gates stating that the meeting was in 48 hours time, 5th March 2010 at 5.30pm.
It was a community member who informed the Echo of the meeting and a neighbour informed us of the meeting through my letter box.
I have children and can see into the park from my window and we were not invited to a consultation.
It goes to show from the efforts made by my neighbours to inform us of the meeting and turnout at the meeting approx 50 adults and 11 children, that you can get information to people if you make an effort.
ctrewyou
says...
6:04pm Mon 15 Mar 10
The council sent flyers to every local house 6 months ago. If people ignored it, then sorry, but please pay more attention next time. The council did let people know this was being proposed, albeit they could have done a lot better at consulting. If this had been done properly, everyone would have felt listened to at the time.
I hope the town green issue gets thrown out as soon as possible. The only people to benefit will be lawyers. It is a waste of time and my council tax money, which I am not happy about, but eveidently I have no say in it. If people want to apply, that is their democratic right, and I suppose I have to pay for it.
PooleMummy
says...
7:22pm Mon 15 Mar 10
paul parkstone
says...
11:30pm Mon 15 Mar 10
stakeholder1 wrote:Stakeholder...
ctrewyou and Peggy Babcock - may I ask where you live? Also, did you ever take part in any litter picks in Alexandra Park? Beer cans, dirty needles, condoms etc? Were you involved in the community fundraising in 2000, that helped buy the newest play equipment in the park in partnership with the council? Are you unable to have your back windows open at night in the summer due to noise from the park in the early hours? Have you ever kept an eye on the park - reporting vandalism etc? Please do not label the community closest to the park 'whingeing oafs' - not only is that offensive, it is extremely misinformed. A great number of people are against the proposals - parents, residents and young people (who by the way did not ask for a rebound wall - check the council's own consultation report).
I overlook the park and have to say that I am so pleased that our Council can go ahead and improve the facilities.
I am very disappointed, although not surprised, that some people will only ever consider their own needs rather than those of the community.
So many people will benefit from these works. Please see the wider picture.
stakeholder1
says...
9:18am Tue 16 Mar 10
There is already a designated play area in the park that could be extended without taking up valuable open space.
Where do 'improvements' end and 'developments' begin?
Watch this space.
And Poole Mummy - please do not put yourself down - I am an ordinary working class 'Mummy' too.
paul parkstone
says...
9:31am Tue 16 Mar 10
As you rightly point out, the park is for everybody to use. There are facilities for the bowlers, play equipment for the younger children and well marked walking areas.
However, there aren't any facilities for older children which is why the our Council are implementing these changes. Like I said, please see the wider picture for EVERYBODY.
stakeholder1
says...
9:14am Wed 17 Mar 10
Making the play area bigger toward the redundant goal post that is there, making room for all the new stuff and scrapping the rebound wall, would have been a good compromise for everyone. The opening of the new facilities could have been a great day for the whole community. It makes me sad that this issue has divided our community.
Mrs Lobsides
says...
3:51pm Wed 17 Mar 10
stakeholder1
says...
7:55pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Mrs Lobsides wrote:They probably do not know about what has been going on - maybe they do not want to be associated with it - can't be good for their image. will look at their website to see what their take is on 'consultation'.
Have been following all the articles on the park with interest being an unconsulted local resident! If the funding is coming from the governments Play England Playbuilder scheme where do they stand on all of this?? They have kept VERY quiet!!
stakeholder1
says...
8:11pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Mrs Lobsides
says...
4:16pm Tue 23 Mar 10
stakeholder1
says...
1:03pm Wed 24 Mar 10
Mrs Lobsides wrote:Hopefully Play England will come down and have a look for themselves now - not sure if they have to approve designs, but surely, the designs must have to meet their guidelines, otherwise people would take the money and spend it however they wanted.
Have now also found Play England and looked at their website - see what you mean about the designs for the park not following their guidelines. Whoever designed the scheme for the park will surely get the first prize for the most ill thought out play equipment for a Victorian Park - it will look like the Places of Woe gallery on their website. With some imagination it could have been wonderful and used the natural ambience of the park. Has anyone from Play England actually seen the park and did they approve the design??
stakeholder1
says...
2:51pm Thu 25 Mar 10
“The project was put on hold and residents concerns were carefully considered, leading to amend-ments being made to the scheme.” -
If the initial consultation was so 'full' and 'fair', why were residents and park users concerns picked up and 'carefully considered' - AFTER equipment was purchased and work started?
student19
says...
1:49pm Sat 27 Mar 10
I'm a Bournemouth University student studying journalism and I'm currently working on a radio news package based on Alexandra Park and its developments.
I have an interview with the project manager but would also like to gain a different side of the argument.
If you are a local resident who opposed the plans for the park, I would much appreciate any help you could give me.
If anyone is willing, please let me know.
Thanks.
stakeholder1
says...
7:09pm Mon 29 Mar 10
Best bet would be to contact the jounalist who wrote this story - he has interviewed people for and against.
You could also go to the park and speak to people/residents to draw your own conclusions.
stakeholder1
says...
11:07pm Wed 7 Apr 10
Did you do a radio report on the park in the end?
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Peggy Babcock says...
10:20am Mon 15 Mar 10