From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
MAURICE CHEVALIER may have been grateful for some little things but I thank
heaven for Swaffham Prior Parish Council. After the emotional trauma of the
previous four or five weeks - the Pope (especially after reading In God's
Name), the joyful union of Charles and Camilla, the General Election, and the
betrayal of Manchester United - after all this I could only wallow in the
atmosphere which surrounds our ever cheerful and totally reliable
representative body.
To illustrate my point it is so reassuring to be told again that the Coopers Lane Barrier may yet be erected sometime and that Ringway has been instructed to remove the old lamp standard at the church steps and to fire up the lantern as soon as possible. One is two years overdue and the other a mere nine months. This is not a criticism of the PC or of any of the other bodies involved but an acknowledgement that sudden rash changes can sometimes take time in this part of the world.
We had first sight of our new CCC representative, Hazel Williams. She rattled
through all her current interests and positions - 21 years on Burwell PC, ECDC
councillor 9 years, 5 children by the age of 20 or was it 5 children with the
youngest being 20, charity work, church work, etc. Very impressive. She herself
raised the question which many must ask - will her having so many positions be
a disadvantage. She saw it as a possible advantage to have someone with a foot
in several camps as some matters spread across several councils. I think it all
depends on the energy and effectiveness of the person and Hazel appears to have
an abundance of both. We shall see.
The legal fees for drawing up the lease for Burwell Tigers seem to be spiralling out of control and Steve Kent- Phillips expressed real concern. I don't know who the lawyers are but a picture of Dickens' Dodson and Fogg did come to mind. The proof of a good representative is not just to moan and lament but to come up with a solution and this Steve did with the help of the ubiquitous problem-solving pint of beer. Over one of these his lawyer friend proposed a solution which will probably cost hundreds rather than thousands and Hazel Williams said it was exactly the same arrangement that Burwell PC had with the Tigers. The new proposal will be explored further.
A report on our Playground by ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) had arrived but because it was not on the agenda it appears it could not be discussed - though many did informally. Somehow I came out with a copy and it illustrates that there will be no end to some small minded smart alec pointing out that an accident can always happen. We all know this but we also know that accidents cannot always be blamed on someone else, much as the ambulance chasing lawyers try to persuade otherwise.
On 1st January 1999 the standards for play equipment changed with the publication of EN 1176. Fortunately the new Standard "is not mandatory or retrospective". Oh! Earlier in its report ROSPA had said "There are a number of areas where existing equipment may fail the standard. This does not mean that equipment has suddenly become dangerous or that remedial action is required (my italics)." But we are also told that "Low risk items should be monitored and if accidents occur, remedial action will be required." This means that if any equipment or pathway has been used for years without an accident then it is deemed safe. But should one of those legendary two left foot accident-prone individuals have a spill then a change would need to be made.
ROSPA goes on to say "There is no such thing as NO risk." Exactly! And I appreciate the cleft stick in which ROSPA finds itself. It knows genuine accidents will happen but it can't say that's just part of life. It has to make a recommendation such as that a protective surface should be considered for items in a playground which have a fall in excess of 600mm - that's two feet. And it is this careful approach which is likely to endanger our slide which naturally fails to meet EN 1176 in four respects - all of which are apparent to any parent and grand parent as they heart-in-mouth monitor a three year old making its first attempt. Children also appreciate the possible danger which is what they enjoy. Ours is a great slide, a challenging slide, but now it might only require one mishap to mean its replacement with a feeble one like that at Bulbeck. I say let's keep our SANITY and our SLIDE.
PS. A few days after the meeting I heard that Home Farm at Wimpole Hall had followed the advice of the Health Protection Agency and had stopped children from collecting chickens' eggs because it is deemed hazardous. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?