Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
The work on refurbishing the play area in the Gardens starts on Monday.A good news story.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
I walked through Pencester yesterday and was looking at the Cycle/Skateboard Park and it really is state of the art...it certainly looks that way to me so a great job was done there. Full marks DDC.
Good luck therefore with the kids area and if its up to the aforementioned standard it should be very good and well used.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
PaulB
I agree but the problem still remains .. its location adjacent to the teenage skateboard park.The language is atrocious from skaters as they stand and chat,showoff in front of their girlfriends or as more than often come a cropper as they try to an impossible manoeuvre.Then when they need a rest or fag break they sit on the swings etc.
I hate to be a pessemist but all the money in the world won't improve it until its moved from it's present location.The council should extend the skate park and relocate the kids play area to the bottom grassy area where they usually situate the kids merry go round when the fairs in town close to Somerfields car park opposite to where the caravans park up.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
oh dear!
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Yes Maek we did consider relocation however after consultation the exsisting site proved to be the answer.I have never in my life found such so much opposition to what we try to do.I have found if you say its a ovely day often the response yes but it will rain in a minute.A new shop opens what do people say it want last.Why are people so negative and on the defensive.When I told a friend the new equipment was going in Pencester what was the response it will get wrecked.
The war ended in 1945 for goodness sake move forward.This district has so much to offer.Be grateful to be Free .
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Sue
I am an eternal optimist which I am sure that those who know me will confirm.I wake up at 5am each morning with a smile put my leg out of bed and get on with life.
However that does not conceal the facts that as I walk through the park most days my poor 8yr daughter is confronted by the al fresco cider and carlsberg special homeless brew drinkers.kids tearing through the park on bikes, atrocious language and ugly pit bull dogs ripping apart an old football as their owners hold the rope/leash in one hand and a joint in the other laughing and joking with a gaggle of underage unmarried mothers.
I am not too sure what relevance your comment about the war has to do with anything but its because of my poor old Polish Dad endured POW camps then reached the UK in 1941 and suffered the loss the of 8 siblings in Warsaw that I am free to express my opinions and I still think the kids playground is in the wrong location.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Sue and Marek. I can see both sides of the argument here.
Sue, the concept of the new play area is to be commended. Pencester facilities for the younger children has been in need of a refurb for such a long time, and now it is going to happen.
However as a parent with young children I to see Mareks point of view because there have been times when my children have gone to try and use the exsisting facilities only to find that it is occupied by teenagers from the skate park who are generally hurling obscenities at each other, making it impossible to use the park anyway. I have also witnessed graffitti and damage to the exsisting facilities which unfortunatly doesn't bode well for the new equipment.
The wino's are also another huge problem. I know it has the drink ban in place in Pencester, but it certainly doesn't seem to deter them, and I can honestly say I have not seen the drink thing enforced in Pencester.
Yes we live in a free society, but how free do we actually feel when we come face to face with some of the stuff that goes on in that park? I have to be honest and say I don't. I feel intimidated by it and my children are then NOT FREE to enjoy the facilities, certainly not comfortably anyway.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Marek and Mandie,I agree with your comments entirely.The behaviour of some people who use the Gardens is not acceptable.I for one was not in favour of the Skate Park being extended in its current location and thought Elmsvale a much better location however others thought better as it should be in a Town Centre location.I dont win the arguement always however the new designed play area will be better and there will be screening between the two areas.
The behaviour in Pencester speak to the local councillor.I have enough problems to deal with in my patch.I hear there is a problem at Crabble Mill water escaping into the road ??Im off to see that later.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
See you Thursday Mandie.Olive branches to hand .Have you heard from Jon Iveson re leaflets ??
HI Sue No response from Jon re leaflets. I shall be there on Thursday to discuss carni.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Jon has been on leave this week....
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
pencester gardens is hardly a place for young children at present for reasons described above.
perhaps smaller play areas in each of the areas with high population would be a better idea.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
You know Howard we have been down that road .Out to consultation.There are several small play areas funded through the Housing Revenue AccountWe are over subscibed with play areas DDC can only maintain the strategic sites.Town Councils can take them over??Play areas cost a lot to maintain.DDC could not possible afford to replace outdated equipment we will maintain the strategic sites.Most Parishes have there own play areas .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
that is a pity sue, no good me contacting the town council for their views.
would have had more joy from the old kremlin.
Dave
I agree Pencester is a disgrace and certainly no place to take your young kids to play but forgive me for being naive but shouldn't the Police or the CPOs, patrol the area after all if a member of the public decides to have a word with one or two of them they are going to be met with a string of abuse.
Absolutely!!!!!
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
Been there this morning ,date is now work will commence 21st.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i remember when we had a copper locally, forget his name, no nonsense young bloke.
saw him once take some booze off of some p*** heads and slowly poured it on the parched soil in front of them.
the screams were very impressive.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
I'm looking forward to the new play area in Pencester and think that once the apparatus is in place some of the problems described here will be eradicated. Admittedly as a park Pencester has numerous failings to do with connections and location, however it is there and this will not change. I quite often pop into the current dilapidated play area with Master T'. The skate park is a huge success and its position is key to this. The openness not only creates the perfect space to show off to passersby as well as girl and boy-friends (which after all is a prerogative of any teenager) but it is not intimidating. I often see parents standing by watching young children going up and down the ramps and there is always a good mix of ages. Yes there is some bad language but I'm not sure you have to go as far as Pencester to find this. As for people drinking we have to be realistic, it is a park and if I liked drinking super strength lager at 10am, I too would choose a spot to watch the world go by. This is a job for the local police and I have recently witnessed a number of individuals being moved on by police officers.
As soon as the new play area is up and running, hopefully parents of younger children will occupy the new play area and this in turn will place some kind of ownership on the space. Thanks to its central position this can happen. I'm not quite sure why we feel the need to compartment and separate all the users of these types of space.
Guest 654- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 169
Theres a few missed points as well,
To get Pencester refurbished, other play areas will close, look around and watch them disappeaer, whats the latest line bein g put out? we are not closing them just taking the equipment out!! thats misleading.
Will interesting to see which play areas do close, and then the out cry
watch this space
