Fun, Fun, Fun

It is sad that Anonymous feels upset by some of the comments below.

I'm a member of the facebook group, and I am in favour of keeping the climbing frame where it is.

I don't want anyone to be upset by this, but I am afraid I disagree with the decision to move the climbing frame, and I have used the facebook group to express this view.

I do empathize with the local residents who are concerned about the security of the site, and I gather that arrangements are being made to add fences and gates which will restrict access in the evenings. So I think the residents concerns have been listened to.

I don't really feel that the climbing frame is particularly high, and I wouldn't be troubled if one was put at the bottom of my garden (though I'd pity the kids who were foolish enough to look through my window!) I know some people are more sensitive about this sort of thing than me, but I think their sensitivities have to be balanced against the right of the local children to have a safe place to play together.

I think if the climbing frame is moved then it will make the Play Area much less attractive to children and will force them to split up rather than playing all together. Most kids would have to cross a fairly busy road to get to Ferry Lane, and won't be able to play on swings and slides when they get there. It will most likely fall into disuse. And, if I am honest I am slightly concerned that the complaints about the climbing frame are just a step towards getting rid of the entire facility.

I think Bishopthorpe is a great place to live, mainly because of the people who live here, and I think it would be a great shame if an argument over the height of a climbing frame were to marr that for some people.

I feel aboultely heartbroken reading all of these comments.
The residents who back onto the park have NEVER complained about a play area being built there, we are all fully aware that this is the designated play area for Bishopthorpe and ALL fully agree that a play area in Bishopthorpe was needed, however, what has been upsetting is that we were never shown plans or given chance to raise any concerns about security and privacy, residents have been attending Parish council meetings for the past 5 months asking for a fence to be erected at the boundary and gates that can be locked "out of hours", not just to help alleviate noise and the potential risk of antisocial behaviour on an evening but also to reduce the risk of the park being vandalised. Due to two of the play equipments (the climbing frame and the slide with red top) being very high residents feel that their privacy has been invaded and are extremely upset that these have been placed so near to houses, a concern also voiced by Jim Shanks (police liason officer). Residents therefore asked if these equipments could be moved, NEVER were they requested to be taken down. The Parish council suggested relocating the climbing frame to Ferry lane, if possible. All residents agreed with this move, the Parish council also said they would move the slide to another position in the park where it would not overlook into resident's properties.
I feel very hurt by comments that we should "get a life", we obviouly are the minority living backing onto the park but surely other Bishopthorpe residents can understand our concern and appreciate that they would also be unhappy if a climbing frame of that size was put at the bottom of their garden without any say. Please empathise with us.

do you live some where diffrent to me as my house backs on to the park and i dont hear noise from 9am till 9pm and i have my window and back door open when not raining for my dog to go out in to my garden??? and this area has been a play area the whole time i have lived i the village which is all my life and am 33 and used to play in the park as a child

i want to know who is saying there is noise from 9am till 9pm i live on the park or should i say my house backs on and there were no kids in there till 9.30am and no one in after 8pm as i had to go up in to my little girls room to check on her and checked out of the window as dont want the park getting wrecked when only just opened up ????????? so why are people saying other wise yet again no noise just kids playing and having fun !!!!!!!!!!!1

I cannot believe the climbing frame is going to be taken down? Is this true? The people in the houses nearby need to get a life. Why is the sound of kids enjoying themselves bad? It is pathetic. There was a park there for years and it has taken a long time to get one back again. Let the kids get out and play instead of sitting at home watching TV etc.

And 'Obviously' you don't live around the boundary of this area, regardless of what type of play equipment is used!! I was never against this in the first place, but I expected that some sort of security & monitoring would be in place, especially in the evenings when is it continually used by teenagers & it's not even officially opened yet.

'Obviously' you haven't done your research properly. If you had you would know that the grant awarded to the village was for 'adventurous play'. Information freely available in Parish Council minutes.

Obviously you don't live on the boundary of this area, where we have continual noise from 9.00am & we still have teenagers in there now at 9.00pm!!
Do we get any noise free period? This was supposed to be a play area for children, not an adventure playground, with reasonable opening times. Where are the security gates & fences as promised?