I was trolling the net looking for something and happened across the latest Bylaws for what are known as Pleasure Grounds, Public Walks and Open Spaces.
These are the rules and regs that apply to all the parks and other council run areas in Pendle. Now call me old fashioned but I seem to have this probably rather naive idea that parks and the like were for relaxing and having a bit of fun and maybe a bit of a knock about with a bat and ball, maybe even a space to try sticking up your new tent for the first time.
Well it just goes to show how wrong I was! Reading the latest bylaws which seem to have been made up by a mix of Elf and Safety types and downright funspoilers.
Now don't get me wrong, I can see that we must have rules or we would have chaos but banning the use of balls in a park unless in a designated area for use of same said ball type is just funspoiling. God help you if you try your tent out. They have you on two different clauses, (you can't errect a structure and you can't disturb the ground by knocking pegs in)!
There are quite a few more which seem to be at odds with the general perceived use of parks. Generally there are more things you can't do than you can.
Not a mention of dogs though, on the lead or off, I suppose other bylaws already apply here.
Posted - 28/09/2009 : 06:29
Ian, I agree. Whilst it is a good thing to have certain prohibitions which nobody would argue against, like riding motor bikes in the park, the Jobsworts do seem to go overboard at times. I'm afraid they will get a shock if they try to stop me and Jack playing ball games on Letcliffe.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk
Parks Byelaws or what not to do in the park
