hi
im dan
i would like to create a point here
"i feel i speak on the behalf of most the kids in whimple by saying the multi use games area should be opened to the public but locked at say 9:30 in the evening because then at least we have somewhere to go and play sports of some kid and then we would be out of the streets and getting told off for trying to amuse ourselves and anyway when it was opened first everyone understood that it would be in use for everyone. also with the time setting there is no chance of something bad going on late at night because no one would be able to get in there."
please take my shout in to concideration because it would help us kids stop getting told off for trying to have fun in a civilised way. also you could do a survey to get peoples views on wheter it should be opened to the public again or not.

 
thank you

It looks like, even though it seems absurd that the MUGA is locked up when not in use by the school, unfortunately that is the way it has to because planning permission was only granted on the conditions that:

(a) it is locked up when not in use by the school - to control security and reduce noise;

(b) it can only be used by the school. East Devon District Council objected to the MUGA being built on the grounds that the location is outside the village’s built up area boundary. By designating the MUGA for school use only it could be considered to be an educational development on a designated school site which is in accordance with Local Plan Policy

Three letters of objection to the development were received from local residents. The areas of objection related to the proximity of the pitch to neighbouring properties; access to the pitch outside school hours; noise; and visual impact on the area.

In other words, it seems that accepting these restrictions was the only way that the MUGA could be built.

When we first moved in to Slewton Crescent we wondered what the black fenced-off patch of tarmac was. It does resemble Guantanamo Bay detention camp, but the facility has obvious potential for greater use. The only way to achieve this would be to overturn the planning conditions. Does anyone know if this possible or how to go about it?

Check out these notes from a planning committee meeting in 2004:

well this is what i don't get because right at the start it was open to the public for at least a year then was shut all of a sudden with no warning or reason told to any of the kids or cer-rounding parents which was a shame because mayb if we were told why some of the other kids might now climb ova the fence to get in and play

also we have no other place to play because there are either no ball game signs which are annoying or if we play and get content not being that noisy but just kicking a ball we get told to move on all the time.
it just not fair we don't always be noisy but no one gives us a chance to settle they quickly come out their homes and tell us to go away.

I agree, there is nowhere for kids to go in Whimple.

Hi

You may be interested to know that thanks to the support of young people like Dan, a group in the Village called WACY (Whimple Action Committee for Youth) are trying to work with the school and the council to try to get the MUGA opened.  This won't be an instant thing due to the many parties involved and the foolish way it was set up in the past.  Nothing is impossible.

Youngsters and parents may be interested to know that the WACY group have successfully applied for a grant to provide a multi use cycle/running track, BMX bumps and an adventure trail on the Parish Field.  There is going to be a lot of work required and if anyone of any age wants to help they would be very welcome to join us.  It will be important for the youth to be involved so that they get what they want.  This is an excellent opportunity.

Watch out for more details in the Whimple News.

Jenny

Hi. We live very close to the MUGA and actually did not ojbect to it being built or that we have any issues with it being open to youngsters outside of school hours (providing it is policed correctly), but the only thing we have an issue with is the 'untidiness' of the area i.e. weeds, overgrown. This directly affects the houses around Slewton Crescent which are so well kept. It would be great if it was maintained regularly especially through the summer months and surely another mark for us in the 'Keep our village tidy' campaign?!