John,I am not sure what you are trying to say or prove. I may live in Cleveland but Hobbayne is the area I represented in the council from 2006 to 2010 and where local residents asked us for more children and youth facilities.As for the everywhere else in the borough, the list will be too long. However, if you really want to know, as resident you are entitled to put a Freedom of Information request to the council of how much money has been allocated, and where, by the previous Conservative administration for Ealing’s youths and children facilities. As for your reference to Elthorne Park being a small park, a park that can accommodate 15,000 people and a fair ground during the Hanwell carnival, cannot, in my opinion be called ‘small’. I would also like to remind you that it is integral part of the Brent Valley River Park, one of the largest open parkland and open space in London.The decision to stop the skate park being built in Elthorne park was a political one. How else could you justify this decision which had a 70% response in favour of it in an extensive public consultation and backed up with a petition of over 800 signatures, compared with another petition that only had about 300 signatures against it?With regards to what there is in my own back yard the answer is: we live right next to Trailfinders Sport Club – ex British rail sport club. Hundreds if not, at times, thousands of people of all ages use this facility on a weekly basis and not just for its sport or recreation facilities, but also for social and corporate events and private functions. Despite the traffic, parking, noise and so on problem associated with any successful club, and contrary to some of our neighbours, we have never objected to any of the various planning applications to expand facilities on this site since Trailfinders took it over. In fact it is great to see and hear so many people enjoying themselves.The many advantages for those of us who are fortunate enough to live next to an open space (whether public gardens, playing fields, recreation or sports grounds and so on) far outstrip the disadvantages. If people want peace and quiet then they should not move right next to them.These areas are for public use, for everyone to enjoy them (and this include teenagers) and should not be considered extensions of our own back gardens.In response to your last point, again you are putting words in my husband's mouth. To consult the local police and seek their advice and comments should be the norm - or at least was the norm in any consultations done by the previous administration - and it is regarded as good practice, espcially so when we consider putting in a brand new facility that has been the subject of so much controversy. Who knows the area better than the people who police it?
Rosa Popham ● 5294d