Disabled children's street party axed by council over safety concerns
COUNCIL officials have been branded party-poopers for halting an approved street party to mark The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Scores of disabled children and residents had to pack up their flags, tables and chairs soon after the start of their jubilee party in Newmarket Street, off Freeman Street, Grimsby.
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Thumbs down: Safeguarding officer Carole Howard, front left, and operations manager Sue Bell, front right, with disappointed staff and service users at Foresight, in Newmarket Street, Grimsby, after their street party was cancelled due to not being able to afford traffic barriers. Picture: Jon Corken
It was organised by staff at Foresight, the charity which supports disabled people and their families. To celebrate the royal event and recall the opening of the venue by Princess Anne in 2008, they set out tables laden with food and decorated the street.
Nearby residents from Tivoli Gardens were also invited to join in the celebrations, which had been approved by North East Lincolnshire Council, in the run-up to the celebrations.
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Volunteers began hanging bunting from 7.30am yesterday. But North East Lincolnshire Council officials attended at 11am – soon after the party started – following complaints from nearby businesses about access to the closed road.
They saw only three black chairs and a sandwich board being used as a barrier to mark the road closure and declared it insufficient.
East Marsh councillor Jon-Paul Howarth demanded an apology from officials.
He said: "It is absolutely disgusting. The officers and the people who complained should come and see these children's faces and the people who are disabled.
"They have looked forward to this event and the officers came along and killed it off.
"It is disgusting they have listened to a couple of business people because they can't park their cars rather than the voices of these children.
"Why are their voices louder than ours?"
Safeguarding officer at Foresight, Carole Howard, said: "These children have special needs. We had permission.
"We were offered barriers to block the road but that would have cost us £50."
However, the council has now offered to provide proper barriers if the party is rearranged.
Jason Longhurst, head of development at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "We recognise the importance of street events to the local community, and the fun and enjoyment that they bring to many; but this is not to lose sight of the duty that the council has to ensure that adequate safety measures are in place.
"In this case we will continue to offer help and support to the party's organisers. And in view of the nature of the event and the potential disappointment of a cancellation, we have offered to provide to the party's organisers the necessary cones and signs so that safety requirements are satisfied.''
Comments
by Shenfield
Saturday, June 09 2012, 3:31PM
“Db
Agree a totally poor choice of wording
For that I sincerely apologies for the poor choice of words
But it is interesting that no one from foresight has replied to the questions raised but still expect the people of the area to donate”
by db_gby
Saturday, June 09 2012, 2:49PM
“by Shenfield
Why should Nelc come together and provide a party for these people ?
THESE PEOPLE???? A bit disrespectful Shenfield. True colours coming out at last??
As to why NELC should make a special case of this, the reason is because they shoulder a lot of the responsibility for why it went wrong. As has been pointed out earlier, they could have swung into action and helped Foresight address any safety concerns they might have had.
Instead of this, petty officialdom would rather see the party closed and the day ruined for a large number of disadvantaged youngsters. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
I do think it is a shame that no one from Foresight has been on here to explain why the barriers were not satisfactory in the first place.”
by dry_water
Saturday, June 09 2012, 10:56AM
“I thought this thread had been removed. It no longer appears in the list.....what's going on?”
by Shenfield
Saturday, June 09 2012, 10:50AM
“Db
Why should Nelc come together and provide a party for these people ?
If they do it for foresight then they will have to do it for every other group in the area - why should those of us who pay our rates have to put our hand in our pocket yet again for what is clearly a b@@@s up by the bright Sparks of foresight
Would this really be a good way of Nelc spending our money in such hard pressed times ? - I think not
And yes you are correct I won't be seen anywhere near this event after the danger the organizers put the kids in because of poor planning. on the strength of this fiasco I would have thought a visit by the health and safety brigade would be most welcome to to re assure us all that everything is being done properly by those charged with the welfare of those youngsters using the building
All this over £50”
by db_gby
Friday, June 08 2012, 11:12PM
“by Shenfield
"Or should we name and shame the person or persons who didn't want to pay the £50?"
Better still, why not name and shame the selfish person who rang the council simply because, to them, losing their parking space for a few hours was more important than providing an enjoyable day for a large number of disabled and disadvantaged children and young people.
If I was running a business in Freeman Street which hadn't complained, I would be coming on here to support Foresight, and distance myself from the likes of Shenfield, who seems to do nothing but gloat over the ruined day.
Let's hope that the council and others can come together to organise another party and make amends to all these disappointed young people. Somehow I doubt Shenfield will get involved.”
by Shenfield
Friday, June 08 2012, 9:55PM
“DES 22 have to agree with you on that one
Think they have scored an own goal with their bleating
Enjoy the weekend”
by des22
Friday, June 08 2012, 9:29PM
“Shenfield - if you look back, I asked those questions ages ago but nobody answered. The deafening silence means only conclusion must be that the organisers decided to go ahead regardless.”
by Shenfield
Friday, June 08 2012, 9:16PM
“Really grumpy mum - if the people of Oxford street jumped in the river freshney - would you follow do the same?”
by GRUMPYMUM
Friday, June 08 2012, 9:02PM
“I know for a fact Oxford Street, Grimsby was closed for a street party, they just used wheely bins and tape, how come this wasn't stopped? there are businesses down there! I think it is just the same people objecting to Foresight using the street as complained about disabled badge holders parking near there and blocking access to there business”
by Shenfield
Friday, June 08 2012, 8:52PM
“Just a thought which day was this street party planned for - was it one of the designated four day break of last weekend ? Or did foresight decide to do it on another day ?
So if I read the article correct someone at foresight didn't have the foresight to pay the £50 for a street party which was not going to be on a designated bank holiday but on a normal working day and thought that by putting a couple of chairs and a sandwich board in the middle of the road things would be ok
Blimey I do hope these are not the same people that parents entrust to look after their disadvantaged ( grumpy mums words not mine) children
If that's the case maybe the health and safety brigade need to be paying foresight a visit
No comments from our champion of street parties yet or have you been silenced by your party
Ha ho oh to have some foresight !”