Our kids’ play field has been PADLOCKED by council who think ‘attackers will hide in bushes’ – but there’s no real risk
LOCAL are furious after a kids’ playing field was padlocked by the council who say “attackers” could lurk in the bushes.
Council officials have closed off the tree-lined park in Church Street, Whitstable, Kent, even though generations of residents have enjoyed the public area.
Kent County Council (KCC) claims it has been forced to chain off the field due to safety concerns but locals say it’s “ridiculous”.
Even a member of the local authority has questioned the motive behind the move, as it comes while locals have been attempting to block the development of one of the town’s few green spaces.
KCC says it took action “to avoid the possibility of a member of the public walking through the site and being subject to an assault”.
Conservative Cllr Rob Thomas, who represents the area on the council, says the move is a cynical “slap in the face”, adding he was also blindsided by the decision.
The issue comes as residents are continuing their fight with the council to build a new 120-place Whitstable Free School for kids with special educational needs on the site.
Many have opposed the plan, saying the field is a much-needed community resource and while admitting a new school is needed, there are other sites where it could be built.
A group called the Friends of Church Street Playing Field, have even sent a petition to KCC requesting the park is given “village green status” meaning effectively there would be a ban on building on the land.
Cllr Thomas told KentOnline: “I think the county council is doing their utmost to demonstrate that the field isn’t being used.
“The locking of the gates without any consultation with me or the local community is a massive slap in the face.
“For decades and decades, the public have had unfettered access to use the field as a recreational space, now KCC is just going to close it off under the pretence that people are hiding in bushes? It’s ridiculous.”
The local authority claimed in an email the decision had been made in the interest of public safety.
Users of the playing field say though they have never felt any danger.
It is believed Kent Police was not consulted on the move to shut the field’s two main entrances.
KCC said in the email: “With the darker evenings now setting in, our surveyors wish to avoid the possibility of a member of the public walking through the site and being subject to an assault (or similar).
“There are a number of bushes and tree screens around the site within which an assailant could easily hide, indeed they have seen the remnants of a tent on site.
“The council have the right to lock up the site as this accords with common law and the right for any landowner to secure their property against trespassers.”
David Hartburn, 47, a member of the Friends of Church Street Playing Field group, says his children play ball games in the field and he also uses it for astronomy.
He said: “I’ve been there in the dark myself with expensive equipment and never felt at risk.
“You get foxes, the occasional owl, but I’ve never seen anyone who might attack me – that is why KCC’s reasoning has been met with disbelief.
“Whitstable is a very safe area with low crime statistics.
“It makes no sense, especially to lock it during the day.
“Do they seriously think that kids playing football in the middle of the day are at risk?”
The local area’s Green Party has also opposed the move.
The Canterbury district branch of the environmental party said on Facebook: “KCC have padlocked pedestrian gates to this much used open space, claiming it is to protect people from possible ‘assailants,’ despite there being no reports of this kind.
“This is believed to be a first move in towards their plan to build a school on the site.
“Cllr Clare Turnbull & concerned local Sally Turner are pursuing this with KCC, seeking to keep the access local residents have enjoyed for decades to this valued open space.”
Responding to that post, one person added: “They aren’t starting building the school for 2 years if that goes ahead so literally no need to lock it now.
“Plus you can still access from the Crab and Winkle way so makes no sense.”
Along with the alleged danger the public face, KCC also says the field is being misused by locals as a cut-through.
It said: “During various inspections of the site in the past year or so, our surveyors have noticed a number of members of the public walking through the site to access the cinder track adjoining the western boundary of the site.
“These people have therefore been using the county council’s land as a convenient shortcut rather than use the footways within adjoining roads.”
This explanation was branded as “ridiculous” by Canterbury City councillor James Flanagan.
The representative for Chestfield said: “KCC have shown total disregard for local residents and are turning a much-loved and used open space into a fenced-off plot.
“Their excuse about people using the field as ‘a convenient short-cut’ is, quite frankly, ridiculous – what is open space for if it’s not to walk across?”
KCC gained funding for the free school project from the Department of Education (DfE) last year.
Should the authority reject the “village green” bid, the DfE is expected to launch a 12-month feasibility study.
Only then can a planning application go before Canterbury City Council for consideration.
Cllr Thomas said: “Even if a school is eventually built there, it won’t be there for two years – why keep the community locked out in the meantime?
“It seems like an action in bad faith, hurting the community when no such intervention was needed.
“I spent 18 months trying to bring the community around to the idea that part of the field might be needed for a school and then they go and do this.”
The timing of the gates being locked is seen as being unfortunate as locals organised a litter pick the previous weekend.
Volunteers collected bags of rubbish which were left just inside the Church Street entrance.
When rubbish collectors arrived on the Monday though, they were unable to gain access to the site.
Cllr Flanagan said this only highlights KCC’s “contempt” for local residents.
He said: “On Saturday, the community went out and litter picked around the field to keep it clean.
“On Monday, KCC started locking the gates – this is the thanks that KCC has shown the community, and their contempt for local residents.”
A spokesperson for the authority said: “Following a risk assessment inspection of Church Street Playing Fields, it was decided to secure the area.
“This is private land owned by Kent County Council.”
The Sun Online has contacted KCC for further comment.