A Climb Down?

What a complete farce this is.
We build a fantastic, badly needed playarea,the kids love it and because a few moaning residents (who if they had their way would close it altogether)we're looking to dismantle part of it a few weeks after it opened !
As for Cllr Galvin, just remember you represent ALL of the village not just those who live near to the playarea.
Also, no one has a right to privacy.I have a house behind me,it was there when i bought my house,so my neighbour can see into my garden.Do i ask him to brick up his windows ? No.
Nor should we be spoiling the playarea.
And get it re-opened quickly too!!!!

We agree! Most people would not want these massive structures behind their homes giving anyone a full view of their private property. The jungle climber is in use and residents are being stared at and having things shouted at them. people have had noisy disruption every night this week into the early hours of the morning.Surely the petition is of little consequence as the people signing it certainly aren't those that are most overlooked and they are the ones that count. Please resite the largest pieces behind the homes of those who have signed the petition and see how they like it! We have had a run of lovely weather when people living around the playarea should be enjoying their gardens like everybody else yet due to the Parish Councils inconsideration and incompetence they are unable to do this.

I am one of the residents overlooking this eye sore and cannot believe that a "play area" has turned into an adventure playground for older children, not the little ones - where do they go? BUT about the juggle climbing frame, I have yet to see it being used. I have only seen teenagers sitting at the bottom of it. The most popular items are the swings, the ocean wave, the spinner and the long slider and the smaller climbing items. Without the big monstrosities we would have had a play area more in keeping with what was here before. Having a play area here has never been the problem, it is the size of it that is, as if every bit of space has had to be covered - no place to really play really. We were never consulted about this and also we did not get the chance to say whether we were able/agreeable to pay for it. The new petition that has been going around now to not move the juggle climbing frame begs a question! A petitioner knocked on a ladies door (who does not live around the play area) to ask her to sign the petition and this lady replied that she did not agree with it all and why not move it down Ferry Lane as there was more room. The reply was "Oh! no, I live on Ferry Lane and I don't want anything beside where I live". Need I say more!!!!!

Phil - I repeat the comments made in the Parish Council Statement:
"Although invited on several occasions, John Galvin has never attended any Parish Council meetings following his election to the City Council in May 2007, and it has therefore been difficult for us to discuss possible ways forward with him."

What have I done wrong Phil? I helped the minority and kept the Parish Council informed of my actions and any other emails etc I sent out. I didn't pick a fight with Cllr Harrison or anybody else for that matter, rather the reverse and I have a long memory.

I think it would also be nice if John Galvin and Stuart Harrison could work on puting their differences to one side for the good of Bishopthorpe. I have a great deal of respect for them both personally and professionally. Please John & Stuart can you look at more positive ways in which to work together and put the past behind you??

"During all stages of the project, the Parish Council have continually published details in the Parish Council minutes with corresponding articles written in the village publication, Link magazine. In addition, when funds were granted "

It would be a BIG step forward if the parish council kept and updated their facebook pages. The Link magazine is fine for some members of the community but clearly there are other avenues of communication in this modern age where a wider audience would be attracted. You cannot write articles in a magazine that a small percentage of the community receive and expect that the majority will be happy about things. The circle of communication needs to be wider.

Who would want to be a parish councillor? Can't do right for doing wrong!!

The Parish Council have commented about the current situation on Facebook, copied below with comments from Amanda who created the Facebook group.

Dear All
I have copied below the statement which the PC have posted on our Facebook site.
I hope you will all agree that this at least now alllows us the chance to air our support for the park, and our children in a public forum. We now know that the views from both sides will be aired

What is now glaringly obvious is that people of the village are hugely in favour of, and proud of their new park.
Perhaps we were slow to demonstrate our support, maybe because we didnt know what we stood to loose.
The Parish Council have done a fantastic job in creating this park in the first place. Lets now hope that with this new opportunity we can give the PC the positive reasons they require to reverse their decision.

Thank you all
Amanda

Bishopthorpe Parish Council Statement regarding the Play Area in Keble Park North
Bishopthorpe Parish Council does NOT want to remove the large climbing frame in the Keble Park Play Area. The following statement outlines the main events leading to recent decisions and... we hope clarifies the current position.
The Parish Council has been working on the project to erect imaginative and adventurous play equipment on Keble Park Play Area for the last three years. Following a consultation in September 2007 we believed we were working towards what the majority of the village wanted. Following enquiries by the Parish Council, City of York Council confirmed we did not need planning permission for the play area as it was already a designated playground. However, City of York Planning Department has reviewed all outline plans, including the height of the equipment, and confirmed they meet all legal requirements. During all stages of the project, the Parish Council have continually published details in the Parish Council minutes with corresponding articles written in the village publication, Link magazine. In addition, when funds were granted by Playbuilder (an award administered by City Of York Council) an article appeared in The Press. Building work began on the project in November 2009. Since that date several residents have attended every Parish Council meeting to object to the play area and handed in an 80-signature petition in support of their objections. We have also received several individual written objections to the play area. The concerns raised were primarily regarding privacy of gardens and fear of anti-social behaviour. We have also received a number of complaints that there is too much equipment in the play area. These residents have been given support by our Ward Councillor John Galvin, including an indication of potential legal action against the Parish Council. Cllr. Galvin has written several letters to the Parish Council supporting these residents. Although invited on several occasions, John Galvin has never attended any Parish Council meetings following his election to the City Council in May 2007, and it has therefore been difficult for us to discuss possible ways forward with him. During the last five months, no parishioner has attended a Parish Council meeting to support the Play Area and the Parish Council did not receive one letter of support. In February the Parish Council distributed a survey to properties surrounding the play area as well as those properties nearby (a total of 98 questionnaires). The aim of the survey was to identify areas of concern and to take these into account to ensure that any future decisions reflected the wishes of these residents as well as those of the wider community. The response to this was relatively low, and the majority of respondents were in favour of changes being made. Following further representations at our March meeting the Parish Council has agreed to erect a 1.8m high solid wooden fence all around the park and install gates to enable the play area to be locked “out of hours”. Under pressure we also agreed to dismantle and remove the large climbing frame.
The Parish Council is now in an invidious position. Having already made a decision to remove the climbing frame we would need strong reasons not to do so, made via the correct channels. We intend to hold an extra-ordinary meeting to discuss this issue in the next couple of weeks – please watch this space for specific details. Written comments can be made via the Parish Clerk and posted to the Village Hall, 40 Main Street, Bishopthorpe YO23 2RB.

I am appalled to hear that the climbing frame in our much-needed new playground faces demolition. I want to add my voice to those in Bishopthorpe who oppose this action and reiterate how important the playground is proving to be for families in the village. I understand that residents nearby have concerns about security, but is the height of the climbing frame an actual, proven threat or a guessed one?
I find it hard to believe that we can't get pedestrian crossings in Bishopthorpe until there is evidence of an accident, but we can see the destruction of a climbing frame because there 'might' be a crime.
We need the help and advice of Councillors to support residents who wish the climbing frame to remain.

Thank you for publicising this, Phil.

The new equipment in the playground is fantastic. It fulfils an important need, and I am grateful to all those concerned in making this happen.

To suggest that a newly-installed climbing frame should be broken up, seemingly against the wishes of a large majority, is absolutely the wrong message to send to our young people, as well as being a waste of time and money. I have joined the Facebook group.

To connect with your earlier post about the Marcia... we had planned to go to Dalby Forest today (there's a good play area). The kids selfishly insisted that we should stay here, go for a walk, eat at the Ebor, and visit the playground instead. They were right. (The Ebor was as welcoming and family-friendly as ever, good food, good beer, good people. But the same goes for the other pubs in the village, to be honest.)

As I have had no recent involvement with the Parish Counil on this issue I can only report information second hand. The response to your daughter was as I understand the decision taken at the last Parish Counil meeting.
It seems that in some quarters I am being cast almost as "The Devil Incarnate". What I have done is quite simple, I was approached by a number of residents who back on to the Play Area and who were very concerned at a number of issues. I could have walked away from the matter or try to give help and advice, I chose the latter for that is what being a Councillor is all about. I don't walk away when I am asked for help.I am certain that my involvement did not in any way influence the decision taken by the Parish Council.