Children denied innocent fun

Read Mr Blades' original letter In wrong location, by clicking here.

The issue of a children's playground has been kicking around for at least a year.

The playground was originally planned for the Goring greensward until our cowardly council backed down before the massed ranks of the killjoys who live in that part of town.

Mr Blades' letter is a depressing reminder that Worthing appears to have more than its fair share of selfish residents who complain about the behaviour of young people while wishing to deny them the simple pleasures every child should have.

Mr Blades goes on to give four "economic" objections for having the playground. None of these objections have anything to do with "economics"!

Objection 1: "The location is inappropriate, as children will be exposed to a danger of drowning."

Truly ridiculous! The logic of such a proposal is that no child should ever be allowed onto Worthing's beaches.

Objection 2: "Maintenance will be too costly and the facility will be under-used."

How can anyone predict usage or maintenance in advance?

If the playground is under-used then surely maintenance costs will be low? Hopefully, it will actually be well used.

Objection 3: "It is a residential area, populated by mainly retired people."

This may well be true, but what point is being made? Children, too, live in residential areas, have they no rights because they are a minority?

Does Mr Blades think playgrounds should be on traffic islands or industrial estates?

Objection 4: "Children lack understanding of the elderly."

Farcical! Do we expect kids of primary school age to be psychologists?

If children do need more understanding of older people, the best fix for this would surely be more mixing of the age groups?

Based on Mr Blades' letter it can equally be said elderly people have no understanding of children or their needs.

The letter goes on to predict waves of vandals and even Fat Boy Slim concerts on the seafront (yes, please!).

Mr Blades may be of advancing years, but it is evident he has not learned to keep a sense of proportion, nor has he developed any skill in disguising the real reasons for his objections.

I note Mr Blades lives not too far away from where the playground will be sited.

In view of this, his letter appears to be nothing more than a transparent and selfish attempt to prevent children from having fun anywhere near his home.

I hope that, in time, Mr Blades will become more tolerant and derive great joy from seeing children having innocent fun on the seafront.

Bill Geddes

Lansdowne Road

Worthing

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Write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA, or email the Herald.

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