6) q&a
Why Waterlees?
There is currently very little play provision for children in the area and there is little for young people to do. There are concerns about antisocial behaviour as well worries for the safety of children playing on streets with fast cars. The provision of an adventure playground that is staffed and locked when not in use, will offer the children a place to play where they are welcome and safe. It will help to tackle some of the issues in relation to antisocial behaviour.
Why the spinney?
Last year all the green spaces in Waterlees were visited and after extensive investigation of the area, the Spinney was identified as the best site for the adventure playground. The Spinney is the only site that is big enough to have an adventure playground but still have room for other community facilities.
The site for Adventure Playground needs to meet the following criteria:
- Be owned by Local Authority
- Large enough to offer a generous buffer zone for surrounding houses
- Have safe routes and more than one entrance for children to access the playground.
- In a neighbourhood and have the potential to be a welcome place for the whole community
- Have mature trees that can offer shelter and shade and offer opportunities for landscaping and planting to enhance the environment
Why not Wisbech Park?
The Criteria that has been set by the Government Department for Children Schools and Families is that the Adventure Playground must be located in an area of need. The town park does already have play provision, including some Play Pathfinder investment.
Why aren’t we being consulted?
Creative workshops, public events and meetings are already taking place and there will be ongoing opportunities for children and local people to be involved in the development and ongoing running of the playground.
Consultation has always been an important part of the project and we want to make sure that local people, particularly children and young people, have a major say in deciding how the adventure playground will look and what will be in it. The consultation events will be announced through door-to-door flyers, local papers and notices in the Oasis Centre and Community House.
Which schools are involved in the consultation?
All the schools including Meadowgate will be approached to be involved in the development of the adventure playground.
What about car parking?
We know that cars parking on the road is a big issue and that these roads already have a problem with cars. There will be an investigation as to the impact of vehicles using the surrounding road as well as looking into any plans to have traffic calming measures in the area. There will be a need to be a small number of spaces next to the Adventure Playground for access for the disabled, staff as well as ambulances
Residents will not have any peace and quiet
It is understandable that there are concerns about the noise level however it might be a surprise to know that generally the sound that comes from adventure playgrounds is much quieter of that of a school playground. A number of people on the trip to London commented that the playground was not really noisy and some people approached the locals that lived very close to playground and they reported that it was ‘not really noisy’.
The adventure playground will not be open all the time or very late into the evening. The opening times will be decided in relation to the needs of the children and young people and the needs of the community.
Playing fields have been wrecked in the past
The adventure playground will be developed with members of the community including children and young people. It is hoped that through allowing residents to become involved and showing the benefits of having the playground that it will become a valued part of the community.
Evidence suggests nationally that anti social behaviour decreases where there is adequate play provision.
There are problems with groups drinking on this field
Work will be carried out with the local police and District Council to look into and try to resolve these issues.
Dog owners let their dogs use the field as a toilet and this is an environment issue for children’s health
The Spinney is a popular dog walking area, every dog owner has a responsibility to clean up after their pets. Working with the District Council we would hope to enforce the usual procedures to try and tackle this problem but also to find ways that work. The Adventure Playground will also have a boundary around it so the main play area will not be accessible generally to pets.
How secure and what height will the boundary be?
The height of the fence or wall will be determined through research into what works in similar projects around the country
Why can’t the adventure playground be open all the time?
The adventure Playground will have opening times and the playworkers would be on site during these hours. The playground may be used out of hours for example during the school day by school or other groups. Play workers/ Rangers usually work unsociable hours as they tend to work when children are not in school.
The exact opening and closing times that have yet to be decided but the playground could not be open all the time out of school hours because staff are needed to supervise it and it would be too costly to have it open at all times.