Little Park to be fenced off for 10 months
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Little Park Friends, Hebden Bridge, have recently become aware that from February 2016 a significant part of the Little Park playground is going to be fenced off for approximately 10 months during weekdays 8am-5pm. This is to allow access for building works for the new Waterside apartment development on the land adjacent to the Little Park playground.
Over 10 months from February 2016 the toddler swings and pirate ship will be fenced off between 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday. The pirate ship is the key feature of the playground and the toddler swings are extremely well used during these hours as many parents with pre school children use the playground at these times.
Danielle Marns said, 'it is astounding that Calderdale Council are allowing this. As our ward and local councillors have pointed out to them there are reasonable grounds for refusing access. We cannot possibly see how this is justified'.
The developer Phil Bradby has applied for access under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act. Presently negotiations are underway between the council and developer regarding the health and safety requirements required to ensure child safety within the playground during Phase 2 .
During Phase 2 the developer will be paying £75 a week to the council which will be given back to the playground. Although it is appreciated that the money will go back onto the playground, the community who use it would much rather have a safe and accessible playground for 10 months!
Nikki Harvey said, 'The Little Park is a much loved and used local asset which the community feels passionately about and has worked hard to have renovated. That a private developer is allowed to use a council playground like this is unbelieveable. The developer is building private apartments, not a community resource like affordable housing or a youth centre etc. This playground serves hundreds of back to back houses with no gardens and they say there are not grounds for refusing access - astounding!'.
No notice has been displayed on the playground notice board from the council alerting the community to this so Little Park Friends believe it is important that the local people are made aware
See also:
HebWeb Forum: Closure of Little Park