We can't provide more than what's already there

9:37am Wednesday 24th October 2001

I respond to the letter from Mrs Rowan (October 3).

I wrote to Mrs Rowan at length, in 1995 and 1997, ex-plaining to her why the Parish Council cannot achieve the 'park' facilities she seeks for youngsters in the area.

She mentions the various recreational areas in the Parish none of which seem suitable or convenient in her view.

The Jubilee Field does have a small slide. It cost £1000 to install and is now covered in thick graffiti and un-usable except by some, illicitly, as a motorcycle scramble feature!

Up to a year ago this area also had a climbing igloo which became damaged and dangerous due to misuse. The passive play area between Balmoral Road and Barfield has never had a slide nor a climbing frame.

Such equipment might not be welcomed by adjacent residents.

Mrs Rowan mentions the 'park' at Darenth which is provided by the Borough Council.

Indeed, the equipment there gets vandalised just as every piece of apparatus our council; has ever provided has been damaged - usually within days of it being installed.

There are no so called 'park areas' within the Parish that are currently available to this council for recrea-tional use other than the 'fields' to which Mrs Rowan refers, let alone having them gated and controlled.

The average 34p per household per week parish council tax used on 'rubbish items' is spent on grounds maintenance of our recreation grounds, the burial ground, parish lighting (84 lamps), servicing of allotments, maintenance of primary public rights of way, bus shelters etc., and administration.

The yearly precept levied by this Parish on its 1600 or so households totals little more than the individual, national average, annual wage.

Mrs Rowan's interest is acknowledged but the Parish Council is unable to meet her aspirations beyond the recreational facilities it is already providing.

Patrick F Coleman

Chairman

Sutton-at-Hone & Hawley Parish Coun-cil

Olympic silver medal for Jason