Letter - Council has got it wrong on Wem allotments ban
Reasons of ‘health and safety’ have apparently been used by the council in taking a decision to stop children visiting an allotment in Wem (‘We will defy Wem allotment ban say nursery pair’, Shropshire Star, August 31).
However, I just want to make clear that there is nothing in health and safety law which would prevent them doing so.
There is some indication that the measures taken to safeguard the children at the site presents an inconvenience to others, so it would be better if this matter could be resolved by trying to find a solution which is acceptable to all parties rather than denying children an enjoyable learning experience.
This case was one that was taken up by our Myth Busters Challenge Panel and we’d encourage anybody who believes that health and safety is being used as a reason to stop perfectly reasonable activities to submit details to us.
All the findings are published on our website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/myth-busting.htm
Rosi Edwards, Regional Director, Health and Safety Executive, Midlands
Comments for: "Letter - Council has got it wrong on Wem allotments ban "
The Original Jake
It's about time the HSE fought back as they've been used as scapegoats for many ridiculous decisions.
ANDREW FINCH
It has become a sad reflection on British society now where Health and safety is used as an excuse to ban a group , individual or activity from taking place such as the children visiting an allotment??.
The majority of the time it is sadly used an excuse by a few to ban groups etc or stop something taking place .
H&S groups sadly sit back and let themselves on all to many occasions be used as scapegoats , as has already has been stated and it is about time the H&S group corrected these people on H&S Law.
These people who quote it in order to avoid giving the real reasons why such events or people are banned need to be stopped and corrected by the H&S groups.
The actions of these people have possibly encouraged the many myths that have now grown around H&S law and belittled the seriousness of why it was introduced and required in the first place.
ANDREW FINCH
Excuse the typo error H&S NOT H&S ???
Rupert Barrington-Black
Andrew,
unlikely to be a typo, the "and" symbol, known as Ampersand, frequently confuses web applications.
Beccy Ahmad
Rupert, Just wanted to thank you for your common sense responses since the start of this allotment situation, and when I read that you would be willing to stand for councillor, my hands went up in delight. You would have my full support, and I am sure that of my friends and colleagues.
The Original Jake
It's not you, it's the Star's comments application.
I'm guessing similar things might happen to > and < (and if they don't then I'm going to look rather silly) :)
The Original Jake
Seems they do!
Somebody needs to fix the text parsing...!
Ken Adams
It would seem to be the case that in order to take children onto the site and comply with Health and Safety rules they had to erect safety fences “There is some indication that the measures taken to safeguard the children at the site presents an inconvenience to others” In other words it is less than honest of the HSE to now say “There is no health and safety legislation, which prevents young children being taken onto allotments for an educational visit” No not in the particular but if a child were to be injured HSE would be the first to say not enough care was taken to protect the children.
green guru
really pleased to see the HSE challenges these myths, the HSE do a good job and H&S rules are important to save lives, the campaign to make them look silly and undermine them in the red top press is I believe deliberately coordinated by powerful business lobbies who wish to reduce the cost (and safety) of workers to increase their profits at the expense of peoples lives and the public purse who ultimately pick up the tab for industrial accidents and disability
sue w
I dont like to say this, but after 25 years as an allotment holder, I ve never known fellow plot holders to be pleased that a bunch of kids are disturbing everybodys peace and quiet!!
eva land
I remember in the 1970s there was a little thatched house donated by a company for children to play in in the Dingle.
Since then this area has been treated with way OTT reverence and perish the thought of any child running up and down the little paths in there as they used to.
It is now dedicated to the dead and everywhere you look there are awkward and dated looking benches with a plaque on the back referring to some deceased member of someone's family and everywhere else you look there are markers in amongst the shrubs and flowers in the gardens doing the same.
It didn't used to be a crematorium, it used to be a fun place to play.
I'm surprised there is not a sign saying no one under fifty plus allowed inside.
Personally I loathe island bedding and the ghastly Victorian garishly painted fountain and find the little Abbey Gardens by the river a far more interesting and under used space.