SO, it appears that the latest bright idea for the town centre is to create a children’s play area in the Octagon Square at the side of Lever Chambers – not the least because it will offer a home for the ‘Elephants.’

Nothing wrong with that I hear you say.

The only problem is that it flies in the face of council policy as laid out in ‘Equipped Play Area Strategy’ which was approved in 2013 and covers up to 2018.

This stipulates that no new play areas will be established in the borough during that period.

This is the policy which is preventing my suggestion of a much needed play area in the west of Little Lever located on Victory Road Park from taking place. The projected cost of this is £80,000 — £57,000 of which is immediately available from Sec 106 monies from the Cricketers View development and the rest from other monies we have available to spend in the village.

But ‘No’ I am told – ‘you can’t have it – it’s against ‘policy’.

Well, I’m sorry, but if they can have theirs, I want mine.

Councillor Paul Richardson

Ripon Close

Little Lever.