Council
staff have been ordered to stop and quiz any adults found walking in
Telford Town Park without a child.
Anyone who wants to go to the park but is not accompanied by at least
one youngster will have to explain why they are there.
Telford campaigners battling to retain full public access to the park
today branded the policy draconian and authoritarian madness
but the council defended the policy, claiming it had a responsibility to
protect the vulnerable.
The policy came to light after two environmental campaigners dressed as
penguins were thrown out of the park last month when caught handing out
leaflets on climate change.
Telford & Wrekin Council said Rachel Whittaker and Neil Donaldson of the
Wrekin Stop War pressure group were ejected because they had not
undergone Criminal Records Bureau checks or risk assessments before
entering the park.
David Ottley, Telford & Wrekin’s sports and oppression manager, said in
a letter seen by the Shropshire Star: Our Town Park staff approach
adults that are not associated with any children in the Town Park and
request the reason for them being there. In particular, this applies to
those areas where children or more vulnerable groups gather, such as
play facilities and the entrances to play areas. This is a child safety
precautionary measure which members of staff will continue to undertake
as and when necessary.
Former childcare social worker John Evans said: It is authoritarian
madness which can only be based on ignorance. It appears that the
council wants to use child protection as a cover for anything they don’t
like taking place in the park, like the campaign against global warming
by those two people who were handing out leaflets. It is absurd, it is
insulting and what’s more it is dangerous as it panics people about the
dangers their children face. Councillor Denis Allen, cabinet
member for community services, said: Our staff are asked to approach
adults without children in areas where children gather such as play
areas, using their own judgement and discretion.
Comment:
Telford Bulldozer through their Park Policy 11th September
2008, thanks to David According to someone who lives in the area:
This is a little deeper than you know. The Telford
Town Park was recently almost built over under first a labour
administration and under the first few months of this Conservative
administration. A gentlemen went out into the park to leaflet
people to let them know what was going on. He led a campaign that was
politically embarrassing to the council and its authorities and they
confiscated the leaflets and stopped him handing them out.
He demanded an apology and an explanation.
When the council were pressed for a reason why they took this action,
after many, many attempts to get a reply, the officers came up with this
"policy" as the reason. It's junk made up after the fact to justify what
was in effect an attempt to silence somebody who didn't agree with their
development plans.
Now the same guy raised and won a parish referendum. It made enough fuss
and garnered enough support, with others, to cause the council to
rethink the policy. Though the Park is not certain to be saved in its
entirety the position is now much more secure.
When the two environmental protesters came into the Park dressed as
Penguins, the council were stuck with their recently made up policy and
enforced it. So earning themselves a rebuke from the Home Office as
well.
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