Agenda item

To receive any petitions.

Mr D Annetts had submitted the following petition, comprising 72 signatures:

“We the undersigned do not support the proposals that have been put forward for the development of Vantorts Park. We do not consider that the proposed developments are good value for the scarce resources available or fit in with the nature of the park. In particular having a skate boarding area is unsuitable in this park. It will cause increased noise and also increase the chance of unsocial behaviour occurring. If a skate park is needed then Vantorts Park must be one of the most inappropriate locations being so close to residential property.

Our proposal take into account that Vantorts Park is an enclosed green space surrounded by houses with old and vulnerable people living on the South side. Vantorts Park is difficult to police due to its confined and generally concealed situation. It is important to avoid any development that is likely to increase noise and anti social behaviour. We consider that with the current tight financial climate it is likely that resources to police the park may be reduced in the future. The option that we would like to see developed is as follows:

1. Improve the children’s play area with the introduction of new equipment.

2. Keep both tennis courts. We know that there is significant demand for publically provided tennis courts and that a limited amount of money should be spent on their improvement. It might be worth considering if one of the courts should be marked out for short tennis and that area could also have basketball/netball posts.

3. The proposal for the football area is generally acceptable.

4. Introduction of signs to assist with the enforcement of action against unsociable behaviour.”

Mr Annetts referred to the correspondence he had passed to Members and outlined the recent history of Vantorts Park and the local concerns over anti-social behaviour.  He referred to elements of the latest proposals which he believed were supported by local residents, namely, the children’s play area and the football area.

He expressed concern over the proposals for the tennis courts and the introduction of a skate park.  He believed there was strong local support for the tennis courts to be retained, as they were a popular and valuable public facility.  In respect of the skate park, he commented that there was opposition on the basis of likely increased noise and anti social behaviour.  The proposed location was unsuitable and if there was support for a skate park, alternative sites did exist.

On behalf of the Executive Member for Community Development, Leisure and Culture, the Leader responded by thanking Mr Annetts for the petition.  He commented that it was always helpful to receive the concerns of residents, whose views were taken seriously by the Council.  The Leader reminded Council that a consultation exercise was underway and that this petition had been submitted in response.  He assured the petitioners that their concerns would be included when the consultation was completed.

Councillors R Beeching and E Buckmaster, as local ward Members, thanked the petitioners and Officers for their work on the consultation process.

On a point of order, Councillor M Wood requested that the running order of the agenda be altered so that the item on Members’ Allowances was considered before the Report of the Executive, on the basis that decisions on the former could impact on decisions on the latter.  The Chairman advised that the agenda would be dealt with in the order as printed.