Today Wymondham Town Council , the Council to whom you pay your precept, blocked a discussion on the disgraceful position adopted where they voted to relocate several items of play equipment at a cost of 60K having been installed only last year at a cost of 75K at last month's Council meeting, on the grounds that it was noise nuisance and there had been Anti social behaviour incidents .
This is YOUR precept money they are spending, hence this post
As there are only 2 councillors who are not Tories any further discussion was blocked and it would appear that an instruction to vote with the Party was issued.If there had been 3 they could not have stopped a discussion taking place.
At a Town Council this is an absolute abomination. One of only 3 families who will benefit is a new Tory Councillor ( Fact) even though the case for being a noise nuisance was never proven and the Police confirmed there is no longer an ASBO problem. The matter was never properly discussed and compromises were never explored .
The play area has been a Play area for years and this matter, and its improvement were discussed with the residents who were surveyed and there was an open day prior to it opening for consultation.
Hundreds of young families will be forced to go to a remote park on the edge of Town with equipment currently designed for a much higher age group and where disabled access is severely compromised.
I would have thought that having a play area for local children/families in the centre of town would be an essential facility - it has been there for years. If they can waste our council tax precept on this, then we are paying them too much (they could have put that money towards providing Spooner Row with a proper broadband system.
Sounds like the council could be up to something again - perhaps clearing the land for future building projects? I wonder if there has been any recent meetings with ASDA or the like, that no one knows about?
I thought people went into politics to make a difference, not to vote with the lemmings. This does not seem to stack up. It could be that the offenders have now found other entertainment rather than the younger children's play equipment and this whole thing is a complete debacle. It is reported that cars have been driven over the grass at Browick - it is not an environment for the younger children to play in. Please can we have a re-think about this whole charade and allow certain people to stand up and be counted.
To be clear your rep was Jack Hornby , one of the 3 ward councillors we have and our District Councillor . It followed an unfortunate incident where several members of the public were expressing their views from the floor about the Kings head meadow proposed re location and Jack mouthed an obsenity at one of the public concerned and she made it very plain what had just happened. Jack lost it and quite rightly left the proceedings. His mother and father were in attendance and made it plain that they were not happy , as any parent would. I believe there is a formal complaint pending with South Norfolk but to be clear it was not from me and the previous post was not from me either.
As this was public meeting it is clearly in the public domain and the purpose of this post was to make it clear which 'rep' walked out
Thanks for clarifying the situation at the AGM. I am appalled that our district/parish councillor, Jack Hornby mouthed an obscenity at a member of the public at a formal Council AGM! I am glad the lady as a member of the public made it clear what he did. Is this attitude suitable for a responsible role in local public office? I hope a formal complaint has been made as this is inexcusable.
Jack Hornby should do the honourable thing and stand down. Personally insulting a member of the public while on committee business is not acceptable for anyone to do.
Why does Wymondham Town Council UPSET so many of the local people when it comes to KH Meadow. What is really going on?
At the last Town meeting by a majority of 9 to 5 the Council voted to dig up the play equipment , not all, but leave about a half dozen pieces and put the dug up items in store until they can find a suitable alternative site.
The Chair speaking for this motion said that 'the nearby residents were prisoners in their own homes on account of the noise'
Those for the move once again failed to explore possible alternatives on offer and unfortunately the cost of digging up the equipment, the subsequent landscaping, the storage costs and the re installation costs wherever, were again not discussed or itemised , as this was ruled as unecessary by the Chair. I am pleased to say the proposed move to Browick road for the time being, having been objected to by the Police appears not to be happening.
You might think, so what ? but of course this is your precept which is being spent, and the children of Wymondham who are being denied the use of this equipment. I could go on but there seems little point at this juncture
They wish to explore every available option and consult with everyone and everones uncle before they make a decision. It was pointed by several by that by that time the summer will be over and the children denied the use of a play area on account of say 3 families say so, that the noise is horrendous with no proof that it is.
Other areas on Kings Head meadow were also mooted and they would be further from the two houses in Millers court who appear to have been been wound up by someone keen to prevent any new equipment going in KHM at all! so not quite dead yet but a clear determination to root up the equipment, put it in storage and keep it there as long as possible.
Cannot say anymore otherwise I might say something I shouldn't.
Looks like the local council is upsetting everyone again with the KHM. Can someone please remind me as to what the role of a council is? Is it there to serve the local people under a code of conduct or to serve its own interests? Those concerned need to justify the money wastage in their inept decision making - installing and uninstalling play equipment or whatever is expensive. The question that seems to be developing is, what is the real agenda here?
Surely the people who voted to put the equipment there without any consulation with the local residents who are affected by it should pay the cost of removing it.
Whether or not the local residents could have been/were consulted on this, do you think it would change anything? For several of those sitting on the parish council, all they think about is party politics, they think they are in Westminister. It is ridiculous for a parish council to perform like this and a sad time for local democracy. Residents in Wymondham should not have to keep putting up with this time and again it is becoming an embarrassment.
The play equipment was erected as a result of a great deal of energy on behalf of previous councillors and not as one current councillor has said "some bright spark". It was an enormous coup for Wymondham; previously many parents took their children to the Old Buckenham play equipment so the present set up was looked upon as a great improvement. I am not sure how the former councillors must be feeling over this debacle; the outcome could hardly be predicted.
Were the neighbours consulted about the fact that previous councillors were going to put equipment along the backs of their gardens. If not they should pay for the costs of the removal.
Hasn't this already been said? What research has been done on the noise impact? Is there a current problem? Does the equipment need to be moved? I hope no one from the council is involved in these complaints.
The latest position here is that yesterday was Demolition day but blocked by angry parents ALL day. Police there to keep the peace and contractors asked persons to leave but they refused. See Wymondham and ATT advertiser for details.
Today the contractors moved in at 0500 and put Heras fencing around the whole site. Bob the builder or Harry Potter took a section down and children returned today with Angry parents and no Police and no contractor on site. Mayor and others seen leaving the site looking very unhappy.
It would appear that our Political masters have completely misjudged the mood and strength of feeling involved here.
I reluctantly accept that the decision to move the equipment has been taken, but my personal view is that to remove almost all the play equipment and then move it to storage , when it could be left on site at no cost until another location, ( the other side of the field ) has been agreed, is madness.
In case you are wondering this is your money which is being spent here
Yes, it's a pretty poor show that this has been done during the children's school holidays. The younger children will not understand what is happening; I really cannot believe that the councillors are being so completely autocratic over this and at least delaying the dreaded hour when the children are back at school.
Shame on those members of the parish council who are clearly not representing what wants of the majority of people in Wymondham resulting in them having no choice but to protest on site at the childrens play area. And what an over-reaction for those members of the parish council to call the police on parents, grandparents and children. Whatever next? The parish council needs to take a long hard look at what its role is within the community.
There are lots of articles in the local news about this, here's one of them, http://www.dissmercury.co.uk/news/protest_prevents_removal_of_play_equipment_at_wymondham_play_area_1_4648440
Protest still in full swing and being supported by local businesses Day 3 and running. TV Cameras on site , headlines in the local press and reporters on site today from the national press.
Just have to leave it where it all is. Explore and look for new sites which has aready been done, and move it when ready. Job done and this all goes away but intransigence has set in and involves big and rather arrogant egos, who will pay the price at the ballot box, but years away.
I have been advised by the Town Mayor, Cllr. Mooney, that Norfolk County Council have offered a mediation service in an attempt to amicably resolve the current position regarding the King's Head Meadow play equipment. Therefore contractors will be instructed to remove the safety fencing and work has been suspended.
A battle won but not the War yet BUT a positive move
What an embarrassing state Wymondham Town Council now founds itself in, as it now needs the County Council mediation services to sort out its poor parish council governance. All this aggro is costing us tax payers. Those councillors responsible for causing this upset should be held financially responsible. How much was the police bill for monitoring the protests of parents and children?
Many play areas are positioned next to residents gardens within communities. It has been surveyed that there is no significant noise problem at KHM. If people live next to a playing field then they shouldn't be surprised to hear the sound of playing!! Is this whole thing more about certain individuals trying to exert their political power?
If you are a newly elected councillor , you do so for various reasons.
Let us speculate !
Living behind what was a new Play area and at the time, no doubt noisy, and you get a promise that says we look after our own so sign up to our Party and we will sort this, what do you do ?
Public opinion suddenly is very much against you but so what .............. we are in power so we stick together and ride out the storm because they always vote us back in.
The fact that you are one of six residents who has complained ( FOI request confimed this) and that there is a petition of over a 1000 against does not matter because we can effectively dismiss it
Okay, maybe it was bit close to their fence BUT the Play area has been there for 30 years and as such was already in existence, and, anyway this discussion was about exploring alternatives. 'Not going to do that' and instructed members to vote along Party lines with some notable defections so any suggestion of early replacement alternative was dismissed.
Rip most of it up, put it in storage and deny the use of a play area for the children for the summer whilst we move with the speed of a snail on herione to think about where else it can go.
What we have now is a stand off where the equipment stays in place whilst we explore alternatives which is what we should have done in the first place. Yes it is VERY embarrassing and it should never have happened but Politics and the needs of party members in some party's eyes is apparently what matters most. Whoever you vote for that has to be wrong at a local level and probably at national level as well
You say a petition of over 1000 signatories has been dismissed by the parish council!!! The arrogance of it!! I heard that the monitoring officer is looking into another matter about the appalling conduct of certain members of the parish council (which includes our councillor) due to several complaints from the public. It just gets worse. We deserve better than this!! How do these people sleep at night!
KHM protests now includes articles in the Mail Online and youtube:-
At last night's Council meeting it was agreed that the play area can stay and for about 15 K a new fence will be installed and some of the play equipment relocated so nothing to be within an 8 metre zone from the existing boundary fence.
It was always going to be a compromise and such a pity it took so long to reach this conclusion.
Let us hope this very sad chapter in WTC history is now over
Wymondham Town Council upset a lot of people with the way they handled the Kings head meadow fiasco which they created. What's their next open space target, Spooner Row recreation ground/playing field?
You helped to create the problem by voting to put the equipment in that location without seeing the plans and without consulting the residents. Will you now be paying for the move.
Is this post for real? When did the people Spooner Row help create the Kings Head Meadow play equipment problem and take a vote it? At committee meetings, it is the councillors who vote, not residents from a different area. Speak to the council if you are not sure how the system works. Wymondham Town Council really did not handle this whole fiasco at all well.
As I recall I did not vote for the equipment to be placed on the Kings head meadow as I was not serving on the council when the vote was taken. I understand from Ex Councillor John Turner that there was consultation on the increased size of the Play area at Central Hall where minimal objections were raised But the exact positions of the Play equipment were not given.
Initially there were complaints of noise but since then the position has quite literally quietened down but once people get noise sensitised ...
I have no desire to rake over this again and again but I do take issue with incorrectly presented facts.
So we are where we are with an unsatisfactory compromise. Unsatisfactory for all by the way
