"Too bright" Corinium Via playground victory for Cirencester children

4:41pm Saturday 23rd February 2013 in News

A PROTEST by parents and children at a Cotswold playground turned into a victory celebration today when developers scrapped plans to repaint and relocate “too bright” equipment.

The half-acre park at Cirencester's Corinium Via housing development has remained closed and guarded by high wire fences for more than a year after a handful of residents living near to the playground objected to the bright primary colours of the climbing frames, swings and slides.

Developers, Redrow Homes, recently put forward a new scheme to Cotswold District Council to camouflage the equipment with dark blue and green paint and move it away from the houses, closer to the busy Burford Road.

CDC backed a decision by Redrow not to consult the owners of 270 other homes on the estate, leading to a furious backlash from parents and children when the news of the "secret deal" finally leaked out.

But today, a local eight-year-old girl had the pleasure of announcing that the playground would soon be opened without change.

The climbdown came after a hastily formed action group launched separate petitions for adults and children which gained widespread support.

The news was announced to the packed meeting by tiny campaigner Ruby Barrio, who revealed that Redrow's Technical Director, Gavin Hill, had sent an email yesterday confirming that the playground would open before Easter without any changes.

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Her grandfather, Declan Cunningham, said: "We were shocked to discover that the developer proposed making drastic changes without public consultation.

"What has most impressed everyone here is the enthusiastic way the children threw themselves into the playground campaign by going around collecting signatures for the petition.

"They have learned a valuable lesson that democracy does work though you occasionally have to fight for it."

He added: "This was Ninbyism at its very worst and it is a sad reflection on the Cotswolds where nobody is prepared to accept that we live on a small island where people need homes and recreation for themselves and their children. We have to accept that the rights of the majority may impact upon our own lives whether we like it or or not."

In his email, Mr Hill said the unpopular proposed changes to the playground would have cost more than £16,000.

"I am sure you will understand Redrow’s frustration with how matters have developed. The expression ‘between a rock and a hard place' springs to mind.

"To summarise, the district council have confirmed that two play area schemes are approved; the original scheme and the amended scheme which was approved earlier this month. 

As you are aware the latter included amendments requested by the District and Town Councils and would cost Redrow and Robert Hitchins Ltd in excess of £16,000 to implement. Were we to do so however, we now fear it would be even less popular than the original scheme.

"I therefore confirm that we will complete the original approved scheme and open the public open space prior to the Easter holiday."

The playground campaign group is now urging Redrow to spend its £16,000 windfall on improvements recently suggested by council planners to enhance playground access for children with disabilities.

Comments(20)

Jessica Rabbit says...
4:56pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Common sense finally wins!! Well done to all the families who stood up to the NIMBYs and authorities!

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devonshiredumpling says...
6:29pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Half-acre park has an acre shrunk ?
Really glad that common sense and people power has won through.

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Crispin Mount says...
9:11pm Sat 23 Feb 13

"I cannot pretend to feel impartial about the colours. I rejoice with the brilliant ones, and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns"

Winston Churchill, 1932

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MR DOBBY says...
12:15am Sun 24 Feb 13

THE PEOPLE HAVE WON WELL DONE.

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Tomdog says...
7:49am Sun 24 Feb 13

What fantastic news well done to everyone who campaigned to open the playground. Common sense prevailed in the end. Let the children play.

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Pentheus says...
10:54pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Cotswold District Planning Department commented...........
....................
....

When asked for a response CDC had no one available ..........

CDC "United We Serve"....... until the next Election that is ......Bye bye .....

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MR DOBBY says...
4:11pm Mon 25 Feb 13

IF CDC OR CTC ARE INVOLVED IN IT IT WILL GO WRONG.
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.

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Susie Clark says...
4:55pm Mon 25 Feb 13

As I understand it, Mr. Dobby, it was much more to do with the " handful of residents " minority pressure group , whipped up by some Lib Dem town councillors seeking to make political capital ,who tried to force Redrow and CDC into moving the play area. Happily, the views of the majority prevailed, as did common sense. Exit, the little band of Lib Dem councillors with tails firmly between their legs, and bullet holes in their feet.

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Council Taxpayer says...
6:23pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Susie Clark, can you prove this?
This useful WGS forum allowing readers to comment has been a lively platform for debate, where genuinely held beliefs and opinions are tolerated, no matter how strident.
However, it is essential not to step over the line into the realms of defamation and malicious untruth.
I am not a Liberal Democrat, nor do I hold any brief for the town council but I must formally challenge you to put up your evidence to substantiate these extremely serious claims that a group of town council Lib Dem councillors were involved in a secret deal to protect the interests of a small number of owners of executive homes.
If your allegations turn out to be true, it will destroy the reputation for openness and honesty of the Liberal Democrat regime at CTC which has, until now, escaped the scandal that has dogged the Tory administrations at district and county level.
If you are telling the truth, let us see your evidence.
If your post was a malicious lie intended to cause mischief ahead of the upcoming county council elections, issue a retraction and apology immediately.
Over to you "Ms Clark."

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Susie Clark says...
7:55pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Oh dear, CTP - how transparent you are .Not a Liberal Democrat , eh ? So, how come you are so quick to leap to their defence and how willing you are to spread malicious rumour - mongering about Conservatives . What are you then - Workers Revolutionary Party ?
I wonder why you are so concerned about the forthcoming county elections - you're not standing, by any chance ?

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Olly Cromwell says...
8:51pm Mon 25 Feb 13

I see the Medusa has returned.

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esse quam viderie says...
11:02pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Susie, I don't much care whether it was Lib Dem, Tory or Monster Raving Loonies who were responsible for this fiasco but I was one of your "minority pressure group" and I can tell you that there were over 200 of us in total compared with less than 10 objectors.
So please get your facts straight before you let your so obvious personal political prejudices blind you to true non-political democracy in action.
This was a victory for common sense won by ordinary people not politicians. Common sense is something that you seem to lack!

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Council Taxpayer says...
11:17pm Mon 25 Feb 13

So Susie blusters but, as I predicted, has failed to come up with the evidence to support her lies.
This forum is open to you to give the facts Susie so, instead of playing the Medusa as Olly aptly describes you, sit down, take a deep breath and justify what you have posted above.
The trouble is that you know you can't, so we get this rather silly rant instead.
Since you ask, I don't belong to any political party but I am against the Cotswold brand of Toryism, as any right thinking person would be.
If you have a shred of evidence to support your charges against the town council Lib Dems I will be one of the first to condemn them. Corruption, nepotism lies and cover-ups have no place in any political party.
So, come on Susie, let us have the facts if you have any. We are all waiting.............
.......

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Lord_Austin says...
12:09pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Looks like Simple Susie has been caught out. I used to be a Lib Dem, until they jumped into bed with the Tories, however when you are called out on a claim that youi have made, you should provide evidence to back your theory up. Otherwise, evrybody becomes aware that you are just talking bulls**t, and in fact get all of your opinions on topics such as politics out of your copy of the Sun. Oh dear...

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dopey1 says...
1:13pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Oh dear! It would appear that Susie has sunk to the depths of telling porkies for political reasons. Ask yourself why you did it Susie and then ask yourself if it is a sign of having been corrupted yourself.

No wonder Italy is well on the way to electing a comedian, who is as fed up with party politics as most of us, as it's premier.

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Susie Clark says...
9:48am Wed 27 Feb 13

Sorry to disappoint you, guys, but my hair stylist tells me , that , with environmental protection laws, she just can't get hold of enough snakes nowadays. However, if it's proof you want there's a long e-mail chain which should give you all you need and, if you send through your e-mail addresses, I'm sure it could be arranged for that to be sent to you.
Oh, and I've stopped reading the Sun - too many headlines about inappropriate behaviour towards women !

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Iansky says...
12:28pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Touched a nerve comes to mind!

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dopey1 says...
12:40pm Wed 27 Feb 13

And where would we send our e-mail addresses to?

Why not just put the e-mail chain here?

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Council Taxpayer says...
2:43pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Oh dear, Susie, you truly are out of date and should rely upon sources other than your gossipy hairdresser - or The Sun - for your info.
If you are referring to the FOI file released last week by Andrew Tubb, Chief Executive of Cirencester Town Council, most interested people have seen it already, including the media.
I have seen a copy and can't spot a single reference to the involvement of any councillor of any political hue.
Indeed, it appears that this was a case of public officials getting rather too big for their boots and behaving obsequiously towards a bunch of toffs who own large executive homes.
But since the Tories round these parts have already admitted that they are perceived as "toffs legislating for toffs", perhaps that's what the jobsworths thought was required of them.
Of course, if you have any real evidence to back your pre-county council election slurs, post it here and, if it turns out to be true, I will back you.
I can't say fairer than that.

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zer()cool says...
3:22am Tue 5 Mar 13

why turn all this into a political debate...*sigh* can't you all get complimentary tickets for question time for that...

The same usernames dominate the comments on this site...just exchange email addresses & bash it out on there...did someone mention Democracy...pffft...
thats just a myth.

The younger generation (including children) in Cirencester are there to stay...although most want it ending up like Eastbourne it isn't going to happen, GET USED TO IT !!!

Get over yourselves!!!

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