It's incredible what a mess the SLDC officers have made of this project by being so manipulative in trying avoid having an honest consultation . Is this because of lack of funds? Why isn't Bishop-Rowe more involved in steering this through?
At the same time the influence of a small group of some five older, frightened, very vocal women is amazing.
They call themselves the Croftlands Community Safety Association and their influence can be very negative; for example to stop kids playing in the playing field.
Sadly they live on the edge of this field and do all they can to prevent it being used for what it's intended. They clearly have a vested interest because of their proximity to what they imagine as potential trouble - teenagers up to no good in amongst the equipment which includes having sex under the slides. They have been encouraged over a period of a few years because one of them has learnt how much noise one can make by repeated attendence at Town Council Meetings so that Councillors are wary of them and District officials are afraid to meet them head on. Bishop-Rowe I understand attends their meetings.
When I was running for County Councillor I visited every house that was adjacent to the playing field - some one hundred houses and 95% of the people wanted the kids to have good playing facilities on the field , yet these women have managed to express their views with strength and stopped things going forward.
As a result the organised few with extreme views have a disproportionate influence.
The actions of this miserable group have managed to delay the provision of various facilities starting with the MUGA for over two years now. My emails with the South Lakes officials indicate the delays and behind the scenes inactivity trying to find a way round this small group.
What is needed is an open meeting with all the interested parties showing up and sorting this once and for all. Trouble is, will the silent majority stand up and say their piece and tell the frightened ladies to shut up and stop working themselves into a tiz as to what terrible things will happen if young people get together and enjoy themselves.
While I agree there is a potential problem this is not dealt with by avoiding it.
What I believe is needed is more adult participation in what happens in this area so that adults have a calming influence. Trouble is the majority are apathetic and want to bury their heads under the covers. Ideally a cafe could be opened on the parade or as an extension of the existing Community Centre which would attract even more adults to the area.
For my part I hope to bring a pottery interest to the railings around the area in the Spring of 2011 through a project at Croftlands Junior school this could become an interest shared by people of all ages as has happened in Gill Banks with the pottery on the railings and the provision of picnic tables nearby.
A good mix of people is ideal.
7 comments:
Aaah Geoff - hypocrisy personified! This "miserable group" have merely done what you've been advocating for years - they identified a problem, got together, talked about it, took action and they got a result. The fact you disagree with the end result is, well, hard bloody luck mate.
I'm sure these are not ladies out to ruin kids' lives, for the fun of it. Rather they've observed the situation, seen the reality of it and decided they'd rather not live, 24/7 in proximity to a foul-mouthed rabble of youths who really couldn't give a toss about the well-being and right to peace and decency of those close to them.
As to the other 95%, they clearly aren't bothered about the kids either way, its best summed up as militant apathy! Despite your assertions to the contrary, Ulverston is a rather tribal town and the 95% will see you as a meddling individual from the other side of town who needs to mind his own business. I suggest that if you stopped butting in and let those directly affected sort things out then they might come to a result that suits everybody. (if they haven't already!).
I live quite near to the Croftlands field and occasionally there are problems with youths but I wonder why more use isn't made of the community hall ? It never looks as if its open and generally any activity seems to end at 7pm ,home time for many older people. Last night I passed the much publicised MUGA on Lund Terrace. At 7pm on a lovely summer night it was completely deserted.
Jim , please explain the hypocrisy.
I'm glad that this group exist and express their opinion. I don't agree with it and see their views as miserable. I've already commented in the past about this group several times on this blog: Clicking the label "Croftlands" will reveal several one of which is a post dated 19th August 2008 under the title "Dangerous Backbiting people"
I believe in an open honest expression of views from every viewpoint leading to an open and democratic result. The problem is apathy on the part of the "We don't want any trouble" brigade.
But you don't live there, Geoff. The fact that you were not elected (whether the best candidate or not) must point to something?
Yes it points to people not thinking much about the candidates and just voting for a party.
Labour was in trouble so the Conservatives got the vote and many of my supporters had never voted in their lives because they didn't have faith in the system and weren't going to change even for me.
Spending so much time talking to people in their homes all over that section of Croftlands gave me a good insight on what people wanted. They were also impressed with the way Bishop-Rowe followed up all their queries. He had a very good track record and maybe they thought his party was the one to support.
I wonder what they think now?
I live on croftlands and my kids play on the park,they've never come home and said anything about kids fighting and causing trouble.At the end of the day the park has been there for years now and should be kept as a park.What do the old ladies want there,more houses built on it??.
Some people are never happy with what the council want to do and will always kick up a stink if its not what they want.The kids need something to do with there time,they moan about kids sitting in the house all day playing games consoles,at least the park gives them something to do with there time.
I'd like to see the football pitch moved{this is to close to the m.u.g.a}.It needs moving over as it doesn't meet the requirements for the pitch to be used in the barrow and district junior football league.If this was moved over slightly marked out properly goal posts installed and a fence put around to stop dogs fouling the pitch then the kids have a decent football pitch where they can go and have games on a night.This could also be used by ulverston rangers on a saturday morning to host league matches.
When i was a kid every weekend there was games played on the park,there were even changing rooms but these were knocked down cause the council didn't want to maintain them,so it was better if they flattened them instead
Hypocrisy Geoff because they have shouted and protested - as you constantly advise - they've got off their a*ses, taken action and solved their problem.
You don't like the outcome and have taken to disparaging them, calling them miserable! You are usually the first to complain when people say disparaging things about yourself!
Gladys has a point. In fact she reiterates mine - you are seen as the meddling outsider - rather bursting the cozy "Ulverston folk always pull together, we are a strong 'community' " bubble you seem to live in. It ain't like that Geoff (for better or worse) and the sooner you realise then the more your disappointment/disillusion level will fall.
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