Petition to Develop a Play Area at Roman Road, Motherwell
North Lanarkshire Council · 2 November 2022
Back to Petitions Sub-Committee — 2 November 2022 and its agenda
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North Lanarkshire Council Report Petitions Sub Committee Does this report require to be approved? ☒ Yes ☐ No Ref SP/LP Date 02/11/22 Petition – Play Facility, Roman Road From Leanne Pollock (Community Partnership Manager) E-mail pollockle@northlan.gov.uk Telephone 1. Background Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to advise Committee of a petition received by the Council requesting the development of a play area at Roman Road, Motherwell and discussion at the Motherwell Community Board to consider this proposal for delivery as part of the Local Development Programme (LDP). Recommendations It is recommended that Committee: (1) considers the content of the petition; (2) support proposals to support the development of the play area as outlined in section 2; and (3) note the funding will include an allocation from the Local Development Programme The Plan for North Lanarkshire Priority Improve North Lanarkshire's resource base Ambition statement (20) Improve the involvement of communities in the decisions, and development of services and supports, that affect them
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1.1 The petition was received by the Council in April 2022 and an acknowledgement sent to the petitioner Mr Joe Wemyss on the 11th May 2022 advising the petition would be given due consideration and reported to the Motherwell Community Board on Thursday 9th June 2022. 1.2 An online petition at change.org received 171 signatures. 1.3 The petition stated ‘The children of the Milton Street area have nowhere safe to play and socialise as the previous park at Roman Road was removed many years ago, it was not fit for purpose and removed by NLC. Subsequently the area known as the "Stadium" a large grass/woodland area where children were still able to run about was redeveloped and is now Cathedral Primary, Fir Park Primary & Daisy Park Community Centre. This means that a large area in central Motherwell has no safe area for children to play. This area is home to children who are living in poverty, children from minority ethnic backgrounds & families who have sought safe asylum in Scotland. I am starting this petition to ask NLC to consider replacing the play park that was removed from Roman Road many years age. This will give the children in the area a safe place to play, it also encourages kids to be kids and all play together. Something the community must support and something NLC have to consider. Mental health issues and Covid etc. The kids need something in the local area to help encourage their mental wellbeing and physical health.’ 2. Report 2.1 Currently there is no council play provision in the area. There is another recreational facility at the joint school campus of Cathedral Primary School and Fir Park Primary however this is a bookable pitch and not accessible to the general public. 2.2 It is recommended that the development of a play area at Roman Road is supported and an allocation of £50,000 from the Local Development Programme is approved. 2.2 Officers from the Community Partnership Team have previously liaised with the petitioner regarding this matter and advised that he would be required to establish community support for a play area development. The response to the petition demonstrates community support. 2.3 The proposal to support the development of a play facility at Roman Road was approved in principle at the Motherwell Community Board meeting on 9th June 2022. The Community Partnership Team will continue to work with the petitioner to support consultation activities, design development and support to secure any grant funding that may be required to ensure the delivery of a play facility that meets the aspirations of the local community.
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Public Sector Equality Duty and Fairer Scotland Duty 3.1 No impact 4. Impact 4.1 Financial impact The project will be supported through the Local Development Programme Budget allocation of £50,000. 4.2 HR policy / Legislative impact No impact. 4.3 Technology / Digital impact No impact. 4.4 Environmental impact No impact. 4.5 Communications impact Will liaise with Corporate Communications to publicise significant milestones in the development of the project. 4.6 Risk impact No risks identified 5. Measures of success 5.1 The creation of a new play area at the Roman Road, Motherwell. 6. Supporting documents 6.1 Copy of petition Stephen Penman Head of Strategic Communications
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Change.org – Play Park – Roman Road – Motherwell – Closed 25th April 2022 171 signatures Contacts: Peter McNally – Community Partnership Officer Christine McGready – Play Services Officer Many thanks to the above Officers and all the people who signed the petition. Joe Wemyss started this petition The children of the Milton Street area have no where safe to play and socialise as the previous park at Roman Road was removed many years ago, it was not fit for purpose and removed by NLC. Subsequently the area known as the "Stadium" a large grass/woodland area where children were still able to run about was redeveloped and is now Cathedral Primary, Fir Park Primary & Daisy Park Community Centre. This means that a large area in central Motherwell has no safe area for children to play. This area is home to children who are living in poverty, children from minority ethnic backgrounds & families who have sought safe asylum in Scotland. I am starting this petition to ask NLC to consider replacing the play park that was removed from Roman Road many years age. This will give the children in the area a safe place to play, it also encourages kids to be kids and all play together. Something the community must support and something NLC have to consider. Mental health issues and Covid etc. The kids need something in the local area to help encourage their mental wellbeing and physical health