Paddock Play Equipment Returns...Again
You may have noticed that the play equipment installed last January in the Paddock has been removed. This follows many months of campaigning by the Paddock Residents Association and others for play equipment that was in keeping with the nature of the Paddock, and also with the original concept developed by Lewes Play Council some years ago. Lewes District Council agreed to survey the neighbourhood and gather opinions on their original choice of equipment. The result of this was that from 270 surveys sent out, 31 were returned, and of these 23 were opposed to the new scheme.

Although there is still some landscaping to be done (and this can't realistically be done until the spring) many people have commented on the improvement. This is not only a tremendous result for people power, showing what can be achieved if you care enough and are prepared to 'hang on in there'; but also a result for Lewes District Council, showing that they are prepared to listen and act on residents concerns - even after the event.

Here's to many happy play days in the Paddock.

Max Carrington
Paddock Residents Association

STOP PRESS 20th December 2005
The garish playground equipment has gone and new equipment is being installed!

Amazing news from Andy Frost, ESCC end-September 2005
"I am now in a position to arrange for the installation of the new play equipment at The Paddock. I propose to display a drawing of the proposed layout (see attached) at the site for approx 2 weeks, to allow any comments to be received from the public.

If you have any comments regarding the proposal, then please let me know."

Further update from Andy Frost, ESCC re. survey (August 2005)...
"I have attached a copy of the conclusions drawn from the recent residents survey. As you will see, 270 surveys were sent out, with only 31 being returned. Initially this would suggest that there isn't a particular problem with the play area. However, out of those 31, 23 were opposed to the new scheme. I hope that you find the conclusions interesting. As I have mentioned previously, there is no budget to replace the new play area. However, I will be replacing some equipment on another site later this year. I propose to try and use the equipment from the Paddock in this play area, and use the finance from that scheme to replace or at least begin to replace, the equipment at The Paddock. You will have to bear with me whilst I try and accommodate everyones wishes. Prior to installing any new equipment at The Paddock, I will ensure that there is further consultation on the final scheme. I attach for your info a possible "sketch" scheme." (see pic opposite)
Click to read the survey's conclusions.

Update from Andy Frost, ESCC re. survey (July 2005)...
"There has been a fair response, with returns still coming in up to last week. I will now call a halt to the surveys coming in and will draw up some summaries. However, as I have previously mentioned, there is no funding to replace the play area. If the survey shows that there is a majority of residents who prefer the older style of equipment, we may be able to replace it if and when the existing unit can be used elsewhere. The money saved from using the existing unit could then be used towards a new unit for the Paddock. I will let you have the survey results as soon as I have them."

Comments by a local resident 28th June 2005...
The bank behind the play area is still exposed and in the recent downpour has suffered serious further erosion, resulting in a collection of stones at the foot of the bank. The matting beneath the main play frame is an eyesore now as the grass has not taken and all that is left is bare earth.

and from an allotment holder...
The bank erosion has also been as a direct result of older (unsupervised, as we predicted) children using the site. The lack of a hedge at the top of the bank has allowed children who scramble up to hold the railings before sliding down on bits of old metal and the remnants of the plastic barriers left behind when Southern water evacuated the site. Recently over one weekend, a cave was dug to mine bricks for making hides. Fortunately the cave collapsed before a child could be buried. Further excavation is occurring under the concrete pavement foundations. The bank and grass are now scattered with bricks and smaller debris presenting a hazard to the grass cutting. - made worse ... by the torrential rain.

There is still no safe play area for the toddlers on the site and the restoration of the little wooden circle specifically designed for the safe play of children aged 3 and under is urgently needed. No-one in the upper part of the Avenue appears to have been consulted, just the big houses as far as Park Road. This site has always been the main play area for little children with their grandparents as well as young families from much further afield than the survey area.

I hardly ever see the play equipment used when I am at my allotment. I did notice a flood ring around the most westerly manhole on Monday evening after the torrential rain but I was away this weekend, so I assume it has been checked to make sure it was just flood water from the streets!

Update from Max
25th June 2005

Lewes District Council sent out a survey to guage local opinion, but didn't explain why the previous equipment was chosen - i.e. with a view to creating a toddlers play area and not a general one so that it is safe for toddlers to play away from larger kids and without too much intervention from adults.

Response has apparently been very poor (i.e. not much), and what there has been has been mixed - some very vocal in favour of the new equipment, some regreting its garish appearance. No sign yet of any council proposals.

Who knows? Max will report further as soon as he has any concrete news.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE TODDLERS PLAY AREA IN THE PADDOCK?

Just before the school holidays began at Easter in 2004, the little timber toddlers' play ground in the sheltered valley floor of the Paddock was taken out to make way for the new drainage works.

Delays to the drainage scheme meant that the site was a works compound until the winter but in December, the 'restoration' of the playground began. Sadly the promises made to restore the toddlers play ground have not been kept.

The little sheltered bowl has not been recreated - the site is now another flat terrace. The little circular timber toddler's play ground no longer nestles in the bowl of the valley but has been superseded by a brightly coloured, if not garish hotchpotch of metal and ply equipment aimed at older children, sited on the sunny south facing slope where families used to relax and picnic while the little children played. The youngest age group that the equipment is designed for is 3 -6 (the slide) - the rest is for older children.

The original scheme was carefully designed by the Lewes Area Play Council - a charitable concern that specialised in promoting and encouraging creative play. The design was created to allow toddlers to move around it, independent of adults. They loved the little swinging slatted bridge. Babies slid bits of bark down the tiny slide and then grew bold enough to climb up it and slide down on their stomachs. The little 'house' shape was used for pretend play where little children could 'hide' without being hidden. The simple log beams could
used for balancing by the older toddlers and as a play shelf or support for standing efforts by the youngest.

The smallest children were at peace to explore by themselves because the area appeared just too boring for older children. Because it was sited in the bowl of the valley, older children were not tempted to kick/hit balls in the vicinity but preferred the flat terraces for cricket and football. The slopes were there for rolling down or sitting to watch others play. Being securely away from cars and sheltered from wind, the whole area was used by little pre school children through out the year.

The site is secluded in summer when the leaves are on the trees but the idea was that toddlers would always be accompanied by adults whereas if the equipment was designed for older children, then there was a risk that they would be unaccompanied and out of sight. If injured or approached, no help would be at hand.

The District Council, usually keen to consult with local residents, gave no indication that the play area was not to be reinstated as promised. The 'replacement' items for a different age group had been ordered and were on site before these residents could respond. The least all local residents can expect after months of noise, smell, mud and litter, is that promises made are kept and the original play area reinstated in the valley floor.

Liz Thomas, Lewes News Jan 2005