Councillors have clashed over ‘absurd’ proposals for a teenage town park in Shrewsbury.
Several council members have rejected Cllr Jon Tandy’s ideas to build a large park similar to one in Telford for older children, with one branding it a ‘stupid wheeze’. Some town residents have also expressed their reservations about the idea.
But Cllr Tandy has defended his idea saying he has collected many hundreds of signatures on his petition. One girl has reportedly collected around 700 signatures in favour of the scheme.
Shropshire County Council could access up to £2.1 million in funds if it bids successfully to achieve Play Pathfinder Status.
Judith Williams, councillor for the Frankwell ward, is outraged that the County Ground was suggested as a possible site for the park.
She said: “What an absurd idea of Jon Tandy who suggests that Frankwell may be a suitable place for a teenagers’ town park. If he had done his homework he would know that the borough council owns the County Ground.
“And he would have found out that this is the site of a new £65,000 toddler safe play area which work has started on. We are having a new one because the old one was wrecked and abused by youngsters getting very drunk and worse and abusing this toddler facility.
“The new one will be more visible and covered by a CCTV camera 24 hours a day.”
Cllr Williams also said that she considered the park to be unnecessary as there were facilities for teenage activities in Sundorne and Meole Brace already, and the Quarry was also available.
She added: “The answer is not throwing away money to entertain teenagers, it’s about being more firm with offenders, and police presence being evident.
“I don’t recommend Mr Tandy tries Frankwell or Meole, his efforts so far in these areas prove he has no idea about either area or its people, otherwise he would never have gone public with such a stupid wheeze.”
Cllr Tandy said: “I have young people calling me on a regular basis asking for more petitions.
“One girl I spoke to had collected around 700 signatures.
I only suggested Frankwell as one of a number of possible sites. I can’t understand why people are so negative about investing in Shrewsbury. Why are we so keen to knock young people? It’s only a small minority that spoil it for the majority.”