Playground equipment plea rejected
COUNCIL chiefs have ruled out investing thousands of pounds worth of planning funds towards new playground equipment - despite a campaign from residents.
A petition has been set up by Rishton residents to see £30,000 of developer contribution money from a new 75-home scheme on Parker Street spent on building a new Holt Street play area.
The £6.5m Gleeson Homes development at the former Gaskell Carpets site was approved in May - with conditions.
The Rishton Community Association had originally opposed the plans, but withdrew their objection on the understanding that money would be put towards the Holt Street improvements.
But councillors have now said the £30,000 will be spent on improving the Ladybird Garden on Chapel Street instead.
Parks bosses say fires and vandalism are causing “serious disruptions” for the fire service and Hyndburn council at Holt Street’s current recreation ground.
The petition set up by Jeff Stinson, of Burton Street, states: “The company who are building the houses have given £30,000 towards new playground equipment, but our local council have now decided to spend it elsewhere.”
Jeff, who was recently elected association chairman, told the Observer any anti-social behaviour is being caused because youngsters are “bored”.
Jeff, 50, said: “We are trying to give the kids something to do. If there wasn’t £30,000 offered in the first place we wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. But suddenly the goalposts have been moved.”
Hyndburn council says the area around the Multi Use Games Area has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour which has damaged the shelter, tarmac and left the woodland strewn with litter.
Coun Ken Moss, cabinet member for parks, said: “The council has to consider the locations of play areas very carefully and the thinking behind where to locate play areas has changed significantly over the last 25 years.
“Consideration must be made about the safety of users as well as the potential for sites to become a problem when occupied by age groups outside those any play area was designed for.
“Holt Street Rec is a site which does not have a particularly open aspect, is not readily overlooked and has very little passing traffic.
“Normally the council would consider this combination of factors to be an issue when looking to locate a play area – as experience tells us that locating a play area on a site with this combination of factors has a high likelihood of attracting anti-social behaviour.
“The previous play area on Holt Street Rec had to be removed about 15 years ago due to it being in an unsafe condition due to vandalism.”