howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
The original one behind Clarendon Place was always the best bet but there are a lot of hoops to jump through to make it happen. Peter Wallace won't let the matter drop easily though.
http://www.dover-express.co.uk/Parents-plead-play-area-child-gets-hurt-road/story-27764446-detail/story.htmlPaul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#2
Well Howard if he can find a solution that has evaded many before him that will be a coup. As you know it is not for want of trying. He has had a few years already to understand the issues.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
That is the only bit of land suitable as far as I can see Paul, what are the main obstacles stopping it being turned into a small play area?
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#4
Also wish Peter good luck. The site at the top of Clarendon was my first choice followed by West Mount .I tried hard for several years but so many hurdles. The children do deserve this.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#5
Supposedly H & S issues to do with existing site. Site would need excavating to create flat area to place play equipment & then you run into planning issues as I understand it. You know the history better than me. This goes back about 13-15 years at least. Play area closed for equipment & site safety. As you know the best option was redundant allotments [at the time] behind community centre but met with public resistance. Funding has not been the issue it is location & site suitability. Peter Wallace knows this, so will be interesting to see his solution that others have not succeeded with. Petition is not going to solve the problem because there is no resistance to finding a solution.
Guest 1391- Registered: 1 Nov 2014
- Posts: 199
#6
Just a point of clarification, the allotments behind CAWA are not redundant, belong to Municipal charities, some are let I believe and MC very committed to bringing them all back into use.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
Paul did say "at the time" Pam.
Getting back to the area behind Clarendon Place point taken about the slope on the former play area, but what about the unused football pitch a bit further back which is totally flat?
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#8
Worth asking the question Howard, I wonder if previous cllrs factored it in? Lots of site searches undertaken as you know.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#9
Yes we done all of that years ago you are going over very old ground thats all I have to say about it.
I just keep taking the pills each day.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#10
Just because people have failed in the past is no reason to throw in the towel, Paul hasn't totally written off the football pitch as a possible so I will make further enquiries and let Peter Wallace and John Heron know the position.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#11
Just because people have failed in the past is no reason to throw in the towel, Paul hasn't totally written off the football pitch as a possible so I will make further enquiries and let Peter Wallace and John Heron know the position.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#12
Paul is correct in his observations .The allotment site was underused at that time but met with local opposition. Times change .There has always been the political will to provide a play area .This is not a political football no pun intended, with a sensible approach hopefully a solution to the problems will be resolved.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#13
It seems nothing has changed from when this was discussed on here some time ago.
The people want a play area as do the Councillors of both political sides the problem is the lack of a suitable site, the site mentioned is on a slope which is deemed unsuitable. Surely this could be solved by earth moving equipment with the displaced soil forming an interesting play area or for BMX riders or skateboarders, this would cost money but that appears not to be a problem.
I admit I do not know the area but where there is the will there is usually a way if enough of those involved are are not blinkered by the obvious problems.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
About a year ago there was an article in the Mercury where money from Tesco had been donated towards a play area. Never enough to cover all the costs of building and maintenance but a start.
It has now come to light that a cheque for £8000 was sent to Dover Town Council who promptly sent it back. I think we can safely say that a lot of people have had their hopes raised for no reason at all.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#15
Why would they do that?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#16
I would like to know the reason too, my guess(and it is just that) is that if they took the money they would have stump up the rest to get one built and then be stuck with maintenance costs. So many questions here.
a) Why did money got to DTC rather than DDC who are responsible for play areas?
b) Was it discussed at full council?
c) If so was match funding discussed?
d) Why did the four town councillors for the ward keep quiet?
At least I know now why every time I raise the issue there is a resounding silence.
Brian Dixon and Jan Higgins like this
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#17
Yes where were the Town Councillors for that ward.They need a lesson on debate me thinks !!
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#18
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:I would like to know the reason too, my guess(and it is just that) is that if they took the money they would have stump up the rest to get one built and then be stuck with maintenance costs. So many questions here.
a) Why did money got to DTC rather than DDC who are responsible for play areas?
Maybe they hoped/wanted to open a Tesco Express somewhere in the town and the money was seen as a sweetener, my pure guess.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#19
If that was the case the money would have gone to DDC Jan, DTC have no influence in that area.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#20
Well well this is interesting,,,,,,, for the past few weeks I'v been trying to identify where this money is(was)
so lets answer some of the questions where I can as I have been asked, but I should add before answering that I had no input into this application the publicity as you see was by one Labour Cllr claiming the glory of obtaining the Tesco money.
I'm understanding now that the application was completed by the Clerk(still to be confirmed) that would answer some of the above questions.
But still didn't make sense a labour Cllr taking the glory of getting the grant.
To answer Howard's questions;
1; I was led to believe through the local media press releases that this labour Cllr had obtained the grant himself, but it appears he didn't actually put the grant in, or if he did others wrote it.
So like other locals through this press release this Cllr went direct to Tesco's I have no idea if this was as a Town or District Cllr as he is a double hatter.
2; No it was not discussed at DTC full council
3;so funding I understand from the press release is up to £10,000
4;I was as wise as any other member of the public on the application, it was progressed by the Cllr
My community assoc, or myself as cllr for the ward were not asked for input.
5;To be fair Howard It's not silent on my part I raise the issue of the play area on a regular basis.
In general there still are a number of sites that could be used, and the community association committee met all the cllrs of the ward this Cllr where we felt it would good to speak with one voice on a site(this was when he had got the Tesco grant.) where we agreed a site. at no time we told any monies had been returned. I have since met the Cllr recently and mentioned the play area and he was still pushing it.
I'm hearing the application by DTC was for a sand pit and a dinosaur , not a play area.
Now, I can only assume that this application by DTC isn't the same one as the one being pushed by the Cllr, but if that is the case where' s the money now?
I have been pushing the play area for some time and speaking with the community and wider was going to raise the issue again with DDC so thought I would find out where these monies are.
I have sent off an E Mail to the clerk to clarify if this is the same grant(I'm hoping not)
once I know I will post on it.
With regards to cllrs in the ward I welcome Sue. N Comments but when you have cllrs from the 2 main parties it is not always easy to know what schemes they are involved in as like Sue's own party they like to push things from the political party, and I'm happy to support schemes from any party but not end up in labour or tory leaflets for doing so
Often in this marginal ward labour will run schemes which I'm unaware of, but often catch up on in publicity material they produce soon after.
Hopefully we can resolve this soon and get the much needed play area(not sand pit)
I will update you should I receive further info.
Keith
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS