Play area debate

Published on 21st June 2007 in News

Howden Town Council has confirmed that the Shelford Avenue Play Area was given to the council by the developer of the Minster Park housing development as outdoor play space for children and that it cannot be sold for other development purposes.

Councillors heard that football games on the land had caused a nuisance to residents, with fencing panels being damaged and balls kicked into gardens. They had discussed ways of improving the site and reducing the amount of space for ball games. At the town council's amenities committee meeting on June 12, it was pointed out that a plan had been drawn up by a landscape designer and this had been sent to households in Wrangbrook Close, Drewton Court and Sandholme Way and that some residents had expressed concern about possible vandalism.

It was agreed to seek the views of the police and the children's play officers at East Riding Council about experiences elsewhere and circulate an 'issues and options' questionnaire to the whole of the Minster Park area.

At the town council meeting on Tuesday evening it was agreed that the options were to either leave the site as it is or landscape it and have facilities for toddlers.