DDC Press Release

CONNAUGHT PARK PLAY AREA LAUNCHED

An exciting and creative new play area for Connaught Park in Dover has been officially opened this week.

The high quality design was developed in consultation with the local community, and includes features such as a zip wire, large climbing boulder and a tube slide. There is a toddlers’ area that contains traditional equipment, such as cradle swings and a sandpit, and a range of inclusive features, such as a wheelchair accessible roundabout. The design includes landscaping elements, natural boulders and planting. It was developed in partnership with the community through a series of consultation events, carried out by the Kent Children’s Fund Network, on behalf of Dover District Council.

The new play area has been funded by DDC and the Playbuilder programme. The Playbuilder funding is provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, supported by Play England, and administered by Kent County Council.

Cllr Sue Chandler, DDC Cabinet Member for Community, Housing and Youth said: “We are delighted to be able to open another exciting play area in our district.  As with our other new areas at Pencester Gardens and Marke Wood, we would like to thank local children and members of the community who have helped us with the design.  We are now looking forward to opening new play facilities at Russell Gardens and Kearsney Abbey in time for the summer.”

Cllr Nigel Collor, DDC Cabinet Member for Access and Property Management, said: “We are very pleased to launch this new play area, and to have worked with community partners to deliver these innovative and accessible facilities. We continue to work to provide creative play facilities for the district, and these new facilities form an important part of our ongoing commitment to improve strategic sites across the district.”

KCC Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, Sarah Hohler, said: “It is wonderful that another play area has been made possible by a Playbuilder grant. I do hope that children and young people living in the area will enjoy the facilities for many years to come.”

For more information, please contact Emma-Jane Allen at DDC on (01304) 872448.

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email: dover7@msn.com

Last edited at 7:20am on 13/03/10 by PaulB

Dover seems to have been on the receiving end of some good government funding lately. Apart from the aforementioned Play Area, one thinks of the seafront improvement scheme for example too...long may it happen. We need a lot of help but perhaps things are moving in the right direction at long last. I know there is a great deal of sensitivity over Play Areas but this news should be well received.

email: dover7@msn.com

Last edited at 7:20am on 13/03/10 by PaulB

Paul
I will refrain from making my comments as i have made them so many times,

im pleased for that area, but im sure those living in priory will be feeling hard done by.


nice to see on the press release mr collor is still around
wonder how long?

good that we got it all installed before any possible change of government.

things like that would have been for the chop.

We're only getting govenrmnt money cos they see the very real possibility of losing the seat. Nothing for over 10 years and now suddenly the purse is open? C'mon, we can all see through that.

Whatever the reason though, it is good news for the kids of that area and should be applauded, but what about Priory?

The Goverment money Sid comes through the District Council,and to be fair they have done well to get it,I am sure Gwyn's pushing on Dover's behalf helps though.

it would be nice to see some movement on the ditz front to be honest.

if you dont like europe why live so close.
ditch the pound bring on the euro.

actually it came from the government through to KCC, plus some from DDC.

hardly an election bribe.

we have mostly given up on one in the priory area.

There has been Brian - very recently.

Sid, Keith is referring to the fact that in 2003, the play equipment in the Clarendon area was taken away because it was deemed by Health and Safety, to be unsafe.

A question one might ask, is why was it deemed unsafe ?

A policy was adopted by DDC to only support (I believe it was 9) strategic play areas across the District and Clarendon was not one of them.

Because of the topography of the ward, it is still felt (by me too) that there should be a play area for the Clarendon part of the Maxton, Elmsvale and Priory Ward.

A search of areas that could be used as a play area was carried out, but the old Clarendon play area (without any play equipment) is still thought to be the best site, for satisfying the most people.

The problem really, is that whilst the search was going on (and the arguing as to which was the best site) - taking far too long, the money was then spent somewhere else - sound familiar ?




Roger

Sid
see we can agree,
firstly everyone applauds connaught getting the site.

but at what cost?


it was the conservative administration that decided there would be ONLY 9 play areas so thank you Roger for high lighting that.

Sites have been suggested in the past and many sites could still be looked at
AWhy roger was there not headlines on here from you when money was taken away?
or were you happy to remain quiet hoping no one would notice?

roger, where and what part of ditz has moved on.

if you dont like europe why live so close.
ditch the pound bring on the euro.

Last edited at 6:21pm on 13/03/10 by Brian Dixon

Yes it was the Conservative administration that have invested time and money in some superb play areas; some are the best in Kent. Good to see you acknowledge that Keith.

As you have brought politics into this, the previous Labour administration, who were in power for 10 years or more, did not invest one penny in play areas and that's the reason the play equipment was taken out - because Labour let them rot.

I still believe there should be a play area in Clarendon, but times do move on and we cannot have a public play area at the bottom of every road. Strategic play areas are able to get the funding, non-strategic ones can't.

I didn't know the money was not there until much later - when it had gone; I would have shouted then if I had known at the time of it going.

All sites in and around the Priory area, over a period of time were looked at - you name it and it was looked at, but none were deemed appropriate, for a number of reasons - location, ownership, nimby's etc.

I have asked you if you know of specific sites Keith and you know that, but you have never come up with anything different from what DDC officers (and the Insurance/H & S people) have and dismissed for the above reasons.




Roger

DTIZ hasd moved on Brian, because it is different to what it was 3 weeks ago - the scheme is still there and ready to roll, just without ASDA.




Roger

ROGER
Some of the sites(priory)were runners, still thats history.
What concerns me more now is that our elected representative part of the tory administratiion that made the decision, was unaware his party had withdrawn funds from priory.
quite worrying that.

Give me two then Keith, you mention sites, so there must have been more than one that you know/knew of, but didn't tell anyone.

As far as I am aware, every single piece of land that wasn't built on, was looked at.

Why "worrying" ? annoying perhaps from my point of view; these things happen because local people argue over the best sites - DTIZ, the Hospital etc. etc. and money goes walkies.

I notice that you ignore the reason why the equipment had to be taken out in the first place.




Roger

A couple of daft questions but I don't mind asking them:

If play equipment was removed as it wasdeemed unsafe/in need of repair; why wasn't it refurbished and reinstalled? Was someone playing political games?

that was 6 years ago sid, we will get different answers depending on what side of the political fence the responder sits.

Coming up for seven Howard. Remember it well. So will Sid.

oops, pressed twice.

Last edited at 11:01am on 14/03/10 by Paul Watkins

corrected now paul.