Opposition to play park From Durham Times
RESIDENTS have spoken out against a plans to push ahead with the creation of a play park and recreation area on the outskirts of a north Durham village despite overwhelming opposition.
The £69,000 facility, funded by Marks £ Spencer, Durham Area Action Partnership and Durham County Council is proposed on land near Colliery Road, in Bearpark, near Durham City.
Residents have argued the new play park will be in an isolated area and would compound existing anti-social behaviour.
Earlier this year they collected more than 600 names on a petition asking for the facilities to be placed in the centre of the village.
Campaigners said they will be making their feelings clear meeting arranged by Durham County Council at the Bearpark Community Centre at 2pm on Friday – Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods is expected to attend.
Geraldine Hendry of Blackburn Close said: “We are not happy they are pressing ahead regardless. “Even with its problems it is very isolated.
“The facilities are meant for children from Ushaw Moor and New Brancepeth, as well. So how on earth is that central for them?”
Fellow campaigner Ron Kemp said: “The council are acting in a high-handed fashion in pressing ahead with these plans.
“This decision is being railroaded through.”
He was responding to a letter from council’s head of sport and leisure Stephen Howell, which said the authority remained committed to the development of the Colliery Road Recreation ground, “as it had always been an area for young and old to participate in sport and leisure”.
Mr Howell wrote: “There is enough land to develop a play park that would fulfil the requirements of all young people in Bearpark.
“Funding has already been committed to the development of this area and would be at risk if the project is delayed or indeed relocated.”
He added there was no other suitable site for the type of facility young people in the community were requessting, including for BMX and skate ramps.
Mr Howell said: “The Wood is too close to housing occupied by vulnerable people and already has problems with anti-social behaviour.
“However, we have agreed to look into providing some equipment on this site for use by younger children.
Ushaw Moor Community Site
Archives
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
Categories
- Advice
- announcements
- arriva
- arriva buses
- buses
- business
- charity
- conservation
- crime
- cycling
- Education
- employment
- entertainment
- fitness
- From the WEB
- garden
- health
- housing
- information
- jobs
- leisure
- Local Business
- mountain bike
- music
- news
- newspaper stories
- off road
- pets
- Photos
- politics
- recreation
- recycling
- regeneration
- religion
- road safetly
- roads
- sports
- training
- transport
- Uncategorized
- waste
- weather
- Welcome
- wildlife
- young people