Playground meeting

[Tbottom of Brookhill]

As a member of the Thorpe Hesley Forum I would like to congradulate the Villagers who turned out for the recent meeting regarding the Playground proposals. The meeting was chaired by the local Vicar Jan Harding and dealt with the meeting that David Frost would have been proud of. The Meeting had approx 100 people there so well done everyone. Both sides of the coin were heard.
I myself being in favour of a playground in the area went away wondering what the council are going to do as I had no idea of what the problems were around the proposed area. For me this shed a different light on how I feel about the subject , so well done to the people in opposition to its location to bringing it to the council attention. Lets keep the debate up.

[MMW]

I don't want to be a party pooper, but I can't help thinking the playground is likely to get vandalised and become the preserve of teenagers who currently have no facilities in the village unkess something is also done for them. There is though a way to have the playground and avoid potential problems.
Travelling around Europe each summer I am struck by the fact that communities much smaller than ours have good basic sporting facilities that are used by all age groups. Typically there will be a level football pitch, a five a side pitch and tennis courts, some even have a running track.
With the size of the 'Rec' we have space for all of the above if funding could be found to terrace it, put in drainage and build the facilities. With the right 'permissions' some of that work could even be done on a self help basis if enough volunteers were forthcoming. As to funding, the Lottery would probably be the only hope - don't I remember that when the lottery was launched we were told there was going to be an explosion in local sports facilities?
My children have grown up and flown the nest, but I would be willing to help if this became a village project.

[Tbottom of Brookhill]

Dear MMW, its nice to see wilst your kids have flown the nest you still want to take an interest in local things. It was envisaged at the recent meeting that if the playground comes about there may well be a group like the friends of bar park who will have a close interest in the surrounding rec and work together with the council to work out problems on the rec. thanks for taking the time to contribute and hope to see this blog get bigger.

[digitaldingbat]

MMW was right, the playground has already been vandalised even before it is offically opened. The temporary fence has been flattened and worse, the sapplings that the developers planted have been uprooted and left to die. I hope this isn't a sign that the place will be a dangerous eye sore before too long.