North Somerset Lib Dem News
return to headline page
18 Nov 2006 - Constituency AGM
18 Nov 2006 - Recycling in North Somerset under the Liberal Democrats
15 Nov 2006 - Sustainable Communities Bill
03 Nov 2006 - Response to article on Lake Grounds in 1st November issue
07 Sep 2006 - Another good day for the Liberal Democrats
14 Jul 2006 - Yatton Library Well Worth the Wait
27 Jun 2006 - Statement by Councillors Alan Hockridge and Muriel Kraft
Response to article on Lake Grounds in 1st November issue
from Jon Gething to Heather Pickstock
Heather
The article in your paper last week about proposals for improving play facilities at the Lake Grounds in Portishead was another example of the way some Town Councillors in Portishead simply want to raise their profile by exaggeration and scaremongering while at the same time making no positive proposals.
In contrast I and my colleagues have been engaging positively with officers at North Somerset Council to achieve real improvements in play facilities in our growing town. As a result £40,000 has been earmarked by North Somerset Council for improvements at the Lake Grounds and we made provision within this years Town Council budget for funds to be used to complement this. At the meeting of the Town Council recreation and works committee referred to in your article a recommendation to provide £30,000 from the approved budget to provide new equipment in the present play area was agreed and will go to next week's full Town Council for approval.
The proposals before us at present consist of extending the fenced area to provide a larger dog-free play space, improving drainage, providing paths and ramps to make the area accessible to everyone, moving the flat swings to the upper area, and repositioning the toddler swings. Hardly a vast expansion of play facilities. New equipment for younger and older children will require additional funds and will be the subject of consultation with a wide range of residents.
Your article states that the Lake Grounds should be a place of quiet and tranquility. The fact is that the Lake Grounds is Portishead's main recreation space with bowls, tennis, cricket, football, boating, running, table tennis, swimming, golf, and informal games already happening.
It is difficult to see how any reasonable person could argue with plans to provide extra play space and some new equipment to bring our facilities up to the same standard as Nailsea and Clevedon.
Regards
Jon
Councillor Jon Gething - Representing Portishead South and North Weston Ward