Forum Topic

Please don't close the parks..just manage them better..

Dear Hounslow Councillors - please listenI am very sad to hear that Hammersmith and Fulham are closing the parks. I was in Chiswick Park in the morning and it was quiet and beautiful and apart from one annoying jogger getting too close people were sensible. Heart lifted and ached to see beatific smile on a young child in the sunshine.  One option is surely to regulate - people book time online (at least for busy periods) when they visit the park to avoid overcrowding  - like museums. Parks wardens who could be volunteers - manning the entrances especially at busy times and also patrolling and potentially fining and banning people who don't behave. My impression has been that 98% of people are behaving themselves and a very small minority are not - please don't deprive the right to fresh air beauty, sanity, hope and exercise just because of a minority.The big problems are on sunny weekends... you have nearly a week to to find a solution!

Jackie Elton ● 2417d14 Comments

I was in Chiswick Park yesterday.  It wasn't much busier than usual and most people were keeping a distance.  However, there were two families who clearly knew each other who stopped for a chat on a narrow path.  They stood in two lines facing each other with 2m a part - very sensible.  But there was no awareness to anyone else, leaving only the small grass verge for pedestrian in both directions to walk-by in very close proximity.  There was another occasion when a group of about 7 were walking along shoulder to shoulder in one long line without a care or thought of breaking for oncoming pedestrians.  I got through in a tiny gap between the last person on the line and a bush!Should we start alerting people when they cause these issues?

Jojo Finn ● 2417d

"apart from one annoying jogger getting too close people were sensible."You were lucky to only come across one thicko. Many other parks witnessed many people who had obviously been lobotomised or were just selfish scumbags.

Steve Taylor ● 2417d

"there was another occasion when a group of about 7 were walking along shoulder to shoulder in one long line without a care or thought of breaking for oncoming pedestrians"and that is exactly why the parks have had to close. Too many thickos and selfish fools around.

Steve Taylor ● 2417d

Why oh why are people finding it so difficult to understand we must/ have to practice isolating ourselves that's what's important right now not keeping a park open ISOLATION ISOLATION ISOLATION.

Julie Greenham ● 2417d

Agreed Jackie- if we behave sensibly a walk will be a life saviour- Chiswick house grounds is great if we take the right way to walk- we need this for our wellbeing

Helen Bamberger ● 2417d

I wonder why the advice up to a couple of weeks ago, that you would have to be in close contact with someone for up to 15 minutes to be at risk, changed?  Personally, knowing how incredibly contagious the cat variety of coronavirus is, I always thought that was nonsense.  But just passing someone I think is pretty low risk.  That said, I will be keeping my distance but the advice could easily change again just as quickly.

Claire Moran ● 2417d

But that's the problem - "we", i.e. the human race, can't all behave sensibly and we don't know what every other member of the human race is doing.  One only has to look at the pictures/videos of Richmond Park, Snowdonia etc. at the weekend to appreciate that "we", as a race, cannot be relied upon to all be sensible.

Adam Beamish ● 2417d

"that "we", as a race, cannot be relied upon to all be sensible."Totally agree. We need leadership and strict control at the moment, not namby pamby democracy. This government needs to take charge and stop just giving out 'advice'.

Steve Taylor ● 2417d

Britain was supposed to be The Land of the Free that's why the government is trying to appeal to the British spirit.  Unfortunately, majority of the population are thick and ignorant and will not comply so the draconian law must be rushed through Parliament to force us all to abide by the new laws.

Jennifer Selig ● 2417d

I completely agree with Adam and Steve, the number of people on Turnham Green this afternoon NOT practising social distancing was beyond belief- utter selfish morons. If we can't behave responsibly then the Government has to impose strict total lockdown measures.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2417d

Thursday Lockdown it looks likeThe emergency bill is going too the Lords on Tuesday. I myself think that will be parks and playgrounds closed and all shops except the major super markets but open spaces observed and monitored. From what i gather,it will not be lockdown where you cant go for a walk but limiting what you can do. But like everything that will be monitored. As one expert said,its ok if you have money,a car and a big garden,but those who have very little and live as a family of 4 in a cramped flat with no garden,its not easy to apply long term.

Julian Pavey ● 2417d

Todays PM statement at 20.30hrs

Julian Pavey ● 2417d

Dry cleaner shut today, aren't usually closed on a Monday.  Hope they reopen, they have five pairs of trousers!

Claire Moran ● 2417d

I've had a classic mixed message from the Government today.Independent Planning Inspector due to attend a site visit this morning.  In dialogue with the Inspectorate last week we confirmed that there is no-one living at the property and we'd leave a side gate open for the Inspector to gain access to the site (and all parties agree there isn't any need for the Inspector to go inside the property).  08.20 today I get a call saying that given the announcement last night the Inspectorate have suspended all site visits for the forseeable future.Yet Robert Jenrick, the SoS on behalf of whom the Planning Inspectorate make decisions, tells everyone that building work on construction sites can continue as long as guidance on social distancing is followed...So big groups of construction workers both on a development site and travelling to/from that site is apparently absolutely fine.  However 1 individual travelling to/from an unoccupied site and walking around that site on their own is a complete no-no.Farcical...

Adam Beamish ● 2417d