Kew residents have received a major boost to their campaign to save a local park after being told it will re-open and definitely receive financial backing from Sefton Council.
It came after yesterday’s (Tues) meeting at the site between the Kew Woods Playground group and the Sefton Cabinet Member with responsibility for the park, Ian Moncur, which was described as “a huge leap forward and incredibly positive news” by the campaigners.
Diane Thomas, one of the three organisers of the residents’ group, said:
“It is a massive relief to know that Sefton Council are unequivocally backing us on this and we are really eager to move this forward. We’ve saved the park but that’s not quite the end of it. If the ward councillors also release the money we’ve called for we can replace all the equipment, not just some of it.”
The park had been closed for safety reasons and there were fears for its future after estimates of £50,000 to replace its 30-year-old equipment on a like-for-like basis.
After campaigners asked for assistance, Liz Savage, Labour’s 2017 Parliamentary Candidate in the town and Southport Labour intervened and Sefton Council said it could contribute up to £30,000 towards the refurbishment cost if the Kew Ward councillors would meet the rest from their ward funds.
Ward funds are council monies that the three councillors from each ward have specific control over. Accounts presented at Southport Area Committee last month showed that Kew Ward had just under £24,000 of unspent and uncommitted funds, amounting to very nearly six years worth.
Despite repeated requests for help from the campaigners, Kew Ward’s Liberal Democrat councillors, Fred Weavers, David Pullin and Mike Booth, have so far refused to say how much they will release or when, claiming that no firm offer had been made by the council.
Speaking at the park, however, Cabinet Member Ian Moncur made it clear that despite the reluctance of the ward councillors to get involved, the council would definitely be contributing and said it was now a matter for the ward councillors to “put up or shut up” with regard to the park:
“It will re-open, it is just a matter of the facilities it then has. The ward councillors can help their residents or not, depending on how much they contribute. If they do not, we will still honour our commitment and contribute £30,000 but sadly the equipment can’t be replaced like-for-like then. The residents have waited for an answer from their ward councillors long enough, it’s time to put up or shut up.”
Tracy Burke one of the other campaigners commented:
“The delays have caused increased anxiety. We were really worried that without the ward funds being released Sefton couldn’t help so to know we have the £30,000 no matter what is a huge relief. They have come good, it’s just a shame our own ward councillors won’t do the same.”
Liz Savage said she was “delighted” at the news which vindicated her involvement:
“A Kew Ward councillor took it upon himself to attack me in the media for trying to assist the residents but the simple fact is if they were doing their job properly it would not have been needed. These campaigners were also shouted at, belittled and berated by their ward councillors and some of their party colleagues at Southport Area Committee last month but they have won through. I’m delighted for them and to have helped them and by Sefton’s decision.”
Diane Thomas and her fellow campaigner Nat Glennon have submitted complaints to Sefton Council stating they were left feeling bullied and intimidated by the councillors’ behaviour at the meeting.
They say the attack was then continued online by Councillor Tony Dawson who was subsequently banned from the campaigners’ Facebook page. Councillor Dawson denied his actions were intimidating. Both matters are now under investigation by the council.
Nat Glennon said:
“The way we were treated was not acceptable and neither is the level of misinformation and delay coming from our ward councillors. We have a simple message to them – we have waited long enough, say how much you will contribute, say when it will be and say it now. The children want their playground back and you are the only thing holding us back.”
The campaign’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/kewplayground/
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