Anne Makin,
Carl kindly provided me with information regarding the responsibility for the fencing that acts as the boundary between Mill Dam Park and Mill Dam Sheltered Housing.
I understand from you to quote " I have the deeds which incorporate the area of Mill Dam (includes both the sheltered housing site and the playground together) and SLDC would be expected to be responsible for the fence."
I am surprised at your conclusion as I believe this particular fence is clearly the responsibility of the sheltered housing owner .
As the chairman of the group of some fifty people, known as The BUGs, my interest is in getting this fence replaced with fencing that matches the beautiful new fencing on the front of the sheltered housing.
The BUGs have been putting a lot of work into the park over the last a three years which includes the planting of bulbs and flowers; the making and purchase of four picnic tables (one of them stolen) and the repair last Saturday of a bench that has been derelict for two years now.
I am writing in particular as I have knowledge of this situation that goes back before the time that Mill Dam Park was there.
The fence is clearly the responsibility of the sheltered housing as the fence, surrounding the then new Sheltered Housing was there before the park existed. At that time in 1984 there was housing, a fence round it with what was then barren land with rubble and broken glass left behind by the builders who built the housing: on the very land that is now our park .
I know because it was I together with a small group who campaigned with SDLC at the time to give us the park promised by Mr Woodburn, Town Mill owner, who gave the land to SLDC for use as a park. Instead they nicked the land to build houses albeit sheltered leaving us with piles of rubble and broken glass which the kids cycled up and down over - as they will - at their own peril. Absolutely shameful behaviour on the part of SLDC - and we rubbed their noses in it at the time and demanded action - and got it - our park!
It is clearly the Sheltered Housing fence as it predates the park.
Could it be that you have come to the wrong conclusion?
I have put together a video that states our case which is on Youtube at
http://youtu.be/3lJVVeg4AOo see below
Dr Geoff Dellow
