Discussion
It has continued to be raised with Network Rail by Dawlish Town Council (Civic Amenities Committee) and I will report any news as I get it.
It's definitely Network Rail land and therefore definitely their decision to not allow the benches to be replaced. Loving all the shoutiness btw! 😂 Hopefully someone on DTC, unbeknown to us mere mortals, is actually taking the lead on this matter and therefore continuing the good work started by Michael Clayson, etc.
If they are going to put the play park on the lawn, maybe they should put it where the bowling green is and then create a new bowling green where the play park is in the manor grounds! Lovely setting and at least the players would get peace and quiet. As for parking and toilet facilities it is not much further than where they are now.
To those against the play park, may I ask what you think the S106 money should be spent on instead? That's not a loaded question, but a genuine request for constructive ideas. Thank you.
Would be very interested to know the word for word content of those not very pleasant emails Margaret, please share.
For info - click on the link below to read the minutes of the town council's Civic Amenities Committee meeting held in June when the issue of the playpark was on the agenda. http://www.dawlish.gov.uk/edit/uploads/1968_2097641342.pdf Public participation and item 4 are the relevant bits to read.
The Sainsbury's development S106 money that has been set aside can only be used (as above) for "projects aimed at sustaining the vitality and viability of Dawlish town centre and including works to meet objectives contained in the Town Centre Masterplan dated April 2008 as published by the Dawlish Community Trust". This definition would not preclude projects outside of the 'heart' of the town ...
So instead of people being able to safely enjoy the view of the sea from a bench, they are now sitting on the sea wall itself. I witnessed this only yesterday evening and saw a couple of people with young children holding them on their laps, on the sea wall with a good 9 - 10 feet drop below. Was it really the railway company denying these benches stay along the sea wall?. Considering there ...
The benches have been put to good use in public spaces elsewhere in town, Lynne.
So the issue comes back to those WE pay to administer issues that affect Dawlish not seeming to bother, what's new there. I suppose if an opportunity to build an elevated fun park on the front, costing millions, they would get into high gear!