If you live in either of these areas , you will want to influence what is happening in the play areas in both places. At the moment there is confusion and anything could happen.
There is a real need for local groups, one for Croftlands and one for Lightburn, to express their opinions and feed them into the decision making process.
This issue is extremely important to the well-being of both areas. Well-designed and thought out facilities could have enormous benefits to each area. They would provide a social centre for communication and social support.
Without good facilities and interaction social unrest will grow. Young people and parents have become very frustrated with inaction and communities becoming polarised.
At the moment the expression of views is being left to just one or two people who are having undue influence.
Not until we have involvement by the locals will we get a coherent strategy in place.
The Croftlands situation comes within the remit of two District Councillors - Norman Bishop-Rowe and Brian Wilkinson and six town councillors (check "Your councillors in 10 seconds" on the right).
Lightburn Park area however is on the edge of three wards and covered by Norman Bishop-Rowe, Jamie Samson and Mark Wilson and nine town councillors.
Out of this array of 'talent' I would only rate James Airey for Croftlands and Jamie Samson, Mark Wilson, Brenda Marr, Judith Pickthall, Phil Lister and Colin Williams for Lightburn.
On this particular issue only Phil Lister is in my opinion talking any sense.
If you really want something good done in either of these areas you really need to get involved as decisions are being arrived at by chance and not by reasoned discussion. There are a muddle of officers - Richard Foster, Margaret Belk and Simon Hughes who cause confusion by not being in touch with what is needed, but the ultimate problem is the attitude of inactive councillors that are good at sitting on their bum, seeming to only pop up for a photo opportunity!
A lot of satisfaction can be gained by getting involved and a lot of frustration achieved by winging on the sidelines!
The opportunities for cooperation are there - people like the readers of this blog need to go one step further and start by saying something followed by meeting with each other and then stating clearly and forcibly what they want.
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