Letter: Allow all children to play in Telford field
Thursday 23rd September 2010, 12:00AM BST.
In response to the complaint by the headteacher of St Mary’s Catholic School about the field next to their school, I want to make it clear that I have no children or dogs so my comments are as unbiased as they get.
The field in question is opposite my house and in my lifetime was always public – to this day it has an open turnstile gate.
I have seen kiddies playing on this field throughout the summer holidays, they did no harm and where are young children on my estate supposed to play?
It’s too dangerous these days to let young children out of your sight and even if you can let your children go further, most of the playing fields/recreational grounds have either been built on or enclosed.
I was mugged recently by a youth and when I got over it, I started to look at some of the causes of youth crime and one of them is the lack of facilities for children.
I was horrified when I saw how little space there is now: most of Rough Park is either built on or enclosed for horses, the playing fields near Castlefields roundabout were closed to build Madeley academy.
Not only has the land gone: free swimming for children has stopped – so children “no longer need” exercise, so the obesity crisis the Government was trying to tackle is obviously over.
Last year, I only saw the field in question used four times by St Mary’s School, so why does the headteacher get so irate when children play on there? In my opinion it’s very selfish to deny a child somewhere to play.
As for her claim that dogs are run on this field, the only dogs I see on the field and in the school grounds are the headteacher’s golden retrievers.
It seems to me there’s one law for her and another for everyone else.
M Clarke, Telford
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M clarke i read letter and found it highly amusing. the headteacher has every right to get irate simply because it’s her field and should only be used for pupils who attend her school.!! as the school is NOT goverment funded. if for any reason children who play on the field get hurt gurenteed the parent’s would want to sue the school. and its her choice how many times the pupils use the field and if parents are so bothered about how much exercise their child gets then spend a bit of money and get them into fitness clubs or pay for their child to go and use the leisure facilities and also should apply for a flexi card which gives you discounted activities or free for the majority of telfords un-employed population.. oh i forgot this is telford and 90% of the parents only have the child to use the money on other stuff and not think about the welfare of their child.. get a grip and stop being petty and the head teacher doesn’t have golden retrivers get your facts right.
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“oh i forgot this is telford and 90% of the parents only have the child to use the money on other stuff”
it sounds like we have a perfect person talking here (probably the headteacher or one of her cronies in all fairness), at any rate they are certainly out of touch with the world and to accuse parents (the ones that choose not to pay for her school) of making children for the ‘money’ is scandalous.
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OH dear what do we have here could it be a caring catholic????? .As for
“if for any reason children who play on the field get hurt gurenteed the parent’s would want to sue the school”. Tabloid clap trap and a myth .
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Actually Andrew, this is in a way true, and not just ‘Tabloid clap trap and a myth’.
Schools ARE liable for any accidents which happen on their site (during school hours or not). Having served on a Health and Safety committee for a school recently this was one of the problems we faced. Children came and used the field/other outdoor facilities and unfortunately, if anything happened to them, then they could have made a claim against the school.
The head/site staff would have to ask them to leave – even during the holidays – even though we were all in agreement that it was a real shame because they were doing no harm.
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I agree they could take legal action as we all can against anyone we feel is to blame for us having an accident . The fact is though they do not that is the myth, in most cases many people pay out due to the fear or a threat issued by a claim company, not the fact that they are actually sued. which in turn is why many of these claim firms operate they know this is the case and take advantage of it and ensure easy money for themselves and the client.
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@n.braley
What a sad, ignorant rant.
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As a full time working single parent, I am unable to pay for much leisure activities for my children, exercise and play should not have to cost anything. Farmers usually allow people to walk through their fields and if these children are doing no harm it should be allowed.
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M.Clarke.
It is her land, and she is quite entitled to refuse to let it be used by anybody.
Be grateful she hasn’t taken action against these TRESPASSERS. Are you familiar with that law?.
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Yes very rare can it or is it enforced. When was the last time you saw some one prosecuted for trespass ?. However it is the Heads employers land that is correct.
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I totally agree with M Clarke, there are hardly any free local and safe areas or facilities for children to play in South Telford.
I’ve recently had community support officers round complaining against my son and his mates playing football on the estate. The fact is there is no provision for kids to play football round where I live. The kids are harmless, there are far worse things they could be doing and the neighbours complaining about the ball going on their front lawn are the ones who’s property is in a state with 6ft high grass and no fence etc. I have contact my local MP who really can’t be bothered to acknowledge the issue.
There used to be public free tennis courts and Madeley Court and Ab Dab, now these are only for school use and as you rightly said even swimming is no longer free.
Millions of pounds are being ploughed into new schools (Madeley Adademy/Ab Dab etc) and they have excellent facilities yet they are only available for their pupils 40 weeks a year and in the school holidays when they could be used by children they are not.
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Hear hear!!
Im 29yo and I grew up with swimming. Not only because my mother is a well known swimming teacher in the village but because I was born with health problems. Swimming was a way to help my asthma by making my lungs stronger. Till this day I still swim! I was also brough up to do cubs and scouts each week where we did so many fun things. Rock climbing, Week long camps away, Sailing, Pot Holing and the list goes on. I loved that part of my childhood. Where are the kids going to have fun?? where will they burn off all this weight from playing mindless computer games where they learn how to kill a zombie or a vampire. When will that come in handy in life?? We used to ride out bikes and build rope swings. Ok we have a few scrapes but thats life.
I agree with Miss Clarke on this one. LET THE KIDS PLAY!!
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