Telford & Wrekin Council Watch - Telford Town Park or Gorky Park

Telford Town Park or Gorky Park

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Written by John Franklyn

Monday, 08 September 2008

Telford Town Park or Gorky Park

The Jewel in the Crown has just lost its shine once and for all.

As noted in the letter below dated, 21^st August 2008, Telford and Wrekin Council have now launched a series of pervert patrols aimed at adults walking in the Town Park without a child.

This policy is flawed and is an indication of the “Wholesale Scaremongering” that only Telford and Wrekin Council are capable of endorsing.

Telford Town Park has once and for all lost its appeal and having walked there myself since this policy revelation, I and others now feel uncomfortable walking in a Park we once enjoyed and as decent people have every right to be in.

Cllr Denis Allen has once again shown his true colours strutting like a peacock and churning out a whole load of draconian blurb.

The letter below clearly states,

“Staff approach adults that are not associated with any children in the Town Park and request the reason for them being there”

It does not differentiate between one area or another and does not say “around Childs Play Areas” nor does it define the areas in which children only are allowed to play.

This policy needs clarifying and does it apply to every play area throughout the Borough.

Can Telford and Wrekin Council advise exactly why this policy was brought in,

is it in response to requests,

is it as result of in depth consultation,

is it in response to attempted abductions,

is it as a result of an uncover operation

or is it as a result of “Residents exercising their freedom of speech and handing out leaflets”

Are Telford and Wrekin Council now going to go the whole hog and ask parents if they are abusing their children or are they just aiming at lone adults.

The internet is littered with videos and photo’s taken in the children’s play areas as well as other parts of the Town Park, are photographers now supposed to give their cameras to Town Park Staff and have their photo’s vetted before leaving the Town Park.

It is unfortunate that Telford and Wrekin Council are creating a state of moral panic and letting the perverts win.

Now it is likely that any real pervert will create a honey trap by taking a child into the Town Park, now safe in the knowledge they will be considered safe.

If this is what the Conservative Party have to offer locally, they will really screw us up nationally,

In the words of J K Galbraith

“Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable”

I now invite every adult who is offended by this policy to join me in the Town Park on Saturday 13^th September at 10.30am, starting at the Arena, in a display to show our discontent at this ridiculous policy that clearly discriminates against lone adults.

As we are not allowed to hand out leaflets, I for one will be wearing a board to display my grave concern at this policy and I am prepared to go it alone if needed.

I agree with child safety, I don’t agree with giving perverts the right of access as they have just done.

Dear Mr.Evans

I am writing in response to your communication with the chief Executives Office. This is about your comments on the recent articles within the Shropshire Star covering the distribution of leaflets within the Telford Town Park.

The council has a duty of care to ensure it offers a safe, secure, happy and exciting environment in such places as the very popular Town Park. The Council has developed and adopted a comprehensive Child Protection Policy and Procedures that were drawn up in accordance with the guidance “Working Together to Safeguarding Children” 1999, Child Protection Procedures of the Local Area Child Protection Committee and with support of the NSPCC.

From our previous correspondence with you, you will be aware that 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 our staff will continue to undertake as and when necessary.

In the case of distributing leaflets in the Town Park, we ask that individuals or organisations wishing to do so request permission by completing an application form and supplying us with necessary supplementary documentation. This information will give us, as Land owners, the reassurance that the activities requested by outside groups will not compromise our duty of care to young people and the more vulnerable.

In the article reported in the Shropshire Star relating to the individuals wishing to distribute leaflets our Town Park, the Town Park Manager explained our procedures and offered them the necessary forms. This is consistent with our usual practice and I am satisfied the officer was correct in her actions.

I make no apologies for putting the safety of our children and young people first. Unfortunately there are people at large in our society who are unable to be trusted in this context and we have had unfortunate incidents in the Town Park which we have had to deal with very sensitively. If this means that we have then to take precautions which some people feel are “over the top”, then so be it. We would prefer in these instances to be as safe as possible beforehand, rather than sorry afterwards.

I hope you are with my response, however if you would like to discuss this further, then either contact Town park Manager, on 01952 382340, or myself on 01952 382328

Yours Sincerely

Sport & Recreation Manager

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