A 'furious' councillor will fight any plans to build a children's play park on a 'peaceful green' next to older people's homes over fears it will be taken over by anti-social teenagers.
Cllr Alan Amos vowed to resist any plan to build a play park at The Green in Lower Wick, after speaking with residents whose homes would be right next door.
The Lower Wick and Pitmaston city councillor argues a play park will attract antisocial behaviour, generate parking problems and disturb elderly residents whose homes front it.
Some bungalows have no fence or barrier between their gardens and the open public space.
People he spoke to, including Susan Chance, had no idea about the possibility of a park being created there.
"At the moment, it's like a desert island. It's so quiet and peaceful, a green oasis," she said.
The Green is where Beaver Close, Montreal Close, Westmount Close, Weyburn Close and Winnipeg Close converge.
What are your thoughts?
You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.
Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.
"If you get a play area for mixed age groups almost certainly the bigger ones are going to join the smaller ones and it will just become a play area for teenagers," said Cllr Amos.
The city's last Conservative councillor was 'incensed' when he heard the suggestion had been raised at the Place and Economic Development Committee at Worcester Guildhall despite residents and Cllr Amos raising objections to similar proposals in the past.
At the meeting the Worcester Play Plan was discussed, including the spending of section 106 money.
The Green (off Weyburn Close) has been recommended to be prioritised for feasibility studies for 'neighbourhood and doorstep play' because of the lack of provision.
But Cllr Amos says the land is 'absolutely sacrosanct' after using his council funds to pay for four benches and new trees.
Cllr Amos wrote in a letter to a council officer: "I am furious that this hoary old chestnut has been raised yet again.
"There is absolutely no demand for any such facility from local residents and, indeed, there is considerable strong opposition.
RECOMMENDED READING: Number plates for bicycles to police cyclists says Amos
RECOMMENDED READING: A449 Malvern Road cycle path cones: cyclists 'dismount'
"The Green is enclosed by a number of streets with a high proportion of elderly residents and few children live in the vicinity.
"Clearly, the officers raising this yet again are ignorant of the area, so I can tell them that The Green is a well-established and valued open area for people to walk in and used by a very large number of dog owners. Already I have had a large number of angry objections from local residents."
A Worcester City Council spokesperson said: “A report on children’s play facilities in Worcester was taken to the Council’s Place and Economic Development Committee last month, and it identified the Lower Wick & Pitmaston and Claines wards as the two areas in the city that currently have a gap in play facilities. The report proposed new play areas at several potential sites in Worcester, and we will be consulting with local residents and other stakeholders before any final decisions are made.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel