Honeypot revisited

Just finished distributing cards in the area!

My main aim is to float the idea of a community group to represent the area in a similar way to the one meeting tonight at Lightburn and another to be followed up in the next couple of weeks at Croftlands.

One thing I did notice though is just how many houses had kids with skateboards outside - with nowhere to go other than the auction Mart and Booths after hours.

A mother of youngsters in one of the Squares felt that the Lightburn Skatepark that is starting in the next week or so, is just too far away for younger kids!

The squares are very bare and the same mother thought that picnic tables would be a great idea to encourage people to meet each other. Comments?

Any chance of some trees to soften the area? And some way of encouraging people to take care of their gardens - some of them are fantastic; others - a tip.

The stick - idle threats by the council isn't working.

Maybe carrots - some reward/encouragement would?

How about a group of people that would be willing to come in and straighten out a garden in exchange for cups of tea and some home baked cakes?

There are some great areas in the Honeypot but I hate the bare squares and "No Ball games" message - it's so bloody depressing!

You can get these kind of signs for playgrounds - how about a few of these to add a bit of colour.

How about tractor tyres and railway sleepers to make 'indestructable' fun dens, bang in the middle of the squares where there are lots of kids?

Come on now - ideas please - and then let's make it happen!

We can.

The brand new MUGA in the Honeypot

Looks good - sturdy, well made but where are the facilities for playing tennis and the like?

At the meeting in October we were promised that net games could be included - all conveniently forgotten.

Next; how about something for the skateboarders. This isn't the best location but something is needed locally for young children who should not be expected to travel unattended all the way to Lightburn Park.

Next obstacle to deal with is the provision of lighting so that the MUGA can be used in the evenings and the provision of some youth workers to encourage its use.

Let's keep the pressure on Simon Hughes and the SLDC to keep supporting and extending this facility, perhaps with something more central to the area.

This is an opportunity for Mark Wilson , the new and keen SLDC councillor to show us what he can do!

Croftlands people have a good look - this is what is planned for the Playing field on Central Drive !

Sad confronation over MUGA at Honeypot

A thoughtful but negative reaction to the idea of installing a MUGA by a group of, I believe thirty people, was presented in the form of a petition to Simon Hughes, the SLDC housing manager, at the meeting last Thursday at Dale Street School.

The views of this group had clearly not been taken on board by the Honeypot Community Group group led by Dawn Wright who has already been referred to before.

The group of objectors was led by a very rational and polite Malcolm Howitt of Lund Terrace. Some good points were raised even though this group could be seen as a NIMBY* group, which lead to some unpleasant emotional exchanges between a few members of the two groups.

The arguments came from a group of people that included some with first-hand experience of the grass site that had been chosen for the MUGA - next to Rascals. It was felt that the poor visibility to the surrounding area would lead to undesirable groups of teenagers congregating in a similar way as had already been observed in the past by people living in houses that overlooked the site.

It was felt that this behaviour would be aggravated by the size of the MUGA facility, to the extent of attracting even greater numbers of troublemakers because of the sophistication of the equipment.

*NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard

"We know what's best for the area"

Dawn Wright is understandably upset that someone is intruding onto her patch.

As Chairwoman of the Honeypot Community Group, she chose to write to the Evening Mail yesterday.

I choose to give this paper a wide berth!

She implied that I was "telling the locals what they want" and spreading confusing and negative information.

A few points.

She was the first to receive my leaflet, the night before they were delivered to selected houses - ones that I had visited before and where there was evidence of children in the house.

The information in the leaflet was based on many discussions that I had had with some fifteen to twenty parents in the area . It reflected what the locals appeared to be asking for. There is no doubt that skateboarding rates high on the agenda of many boys - I'm not saying that it rates higher or less than ball sports.

I got it wrong: I was shocked to find that the £50,000 on offer came with strings attached - according to Simon Hughes of SLDC - it had to be spent on a MUGA. How this happened in the first place is of concern to me and I hope to discover this eventually.

When Simon Hughes talks about a 'consultation' about the MUGA, I would have thought the phrase 'provide information' would be more appropriate.

I have already told Dawn Wright that I am eager to learn of her group's plans for the area and will continue to talk with all those interested as I make my way slowly door-to-door through the area!

Good news for the Honeypot?

What would be a good games area for the Honeypot ?

Wendy Kolbe is bringing Margaret Belk,Community Development Officer, SLDC, to a meeting at Dale Street School:

This Wednesday 22nd October at 7 o'clock.

The spending of some £50,000 plus to involve children and young people is being discussed.

A MUGA has been proposed which looks like this:



To me this is a real disappointment. The money could be spent much better.

There is already a grassed area with fencing around it for kids to kick a ball around - is it used?

It is very rare to be offered money. we need to think carefully before acting.

Instead of proposing a solution, wouldn't it be better to consult the local young people as to what they want?

There is quite a lot of interest amongst young people from the Honeypot in skateboarding and how about something for young children, furthermore the presence of parents and adults can have a real influence and bring people together.

What is needed is an area where lots of people with different interests get together.

They do this in France very successfully.

So how about:

Seating in a small park area:



Something for the young people:

This is one they've got in Grange.

with Skateboarding:
This is in London and doesn't have to cost a lot - what is needed is a flat smooth surface of concrete with a few concrete 'boxes' of different heights for the kids to 'Grind' on!

Come to the meeting, particularly if you're young, and express your views!

Here's a link provided by Lukeuk below