Rectory Meadow in Diss
For some time now, sadly, there has been a problem with vandalism and anti-social behaviour on Rectory Meadow, particularly affecting the Cricket Club.
The meadow as the name suggests originally belonged to the Rectory which is hidden by trees now. The school playing field nearby was all part of the same meadow at one time, all owned by the church – which is why Diss Junior became a church school.
Diss Town Council have been asked by the cricket club is they can erect a 6′ fence around the space. There will be open gates for public access but presumably they’ll be locked at night.
The Diss Cricket Club building
Hopefully this wont impact on the Junior school who have suffered their own share of vandalism!
Diss Town Council Amenities Committee have approved the plan but it has to go to the Full Town Council meeting for everyones approval. This is on 17th September so make sure your views are known before then! Either write/tell individual Councillors, or the Town Council, or let me know and I’ll pass the message on.
Personally I think its a real shame to start fencing public amenities off but without 24hrs guarding what else can be done?
The open spaces society may have a view
9 responses so far ↓
Peter Chamberlin // August 29, 2008 at 10:06 am |
I don’t see how a 6 ft fence will do anything to prevent vandalism – vandals are famously not stopped by petty barriers like that!
If the fence had barbed wire on top? I’m guessing the kids, and I’m guessing it’s kids, that vandalise the cricket club and school would just vandalise something else anyway.
I am sure there are many people whose walk home or dog walking routine would be scuppered by this also – even if the gates are only locked at night I am sure it would impact early-morning walkers.
Putting up fences will not help anything – it might succeed in moving the problem on, but it is not a solution. It also leaves a scar on the community – having a six foot metal fence spoiling a cricket ground is vandalism in itself.
When you start throwing good money at non-solutions, which we have been doing in this country for years, you are wasting resources. When you start sacrificing quality of life for no benefit you are out of touch with the problem.
Norfolk County Council spends less than 1% of its budget on youth services (other than schools, of course).
Norfolk County Council Leader Daniel Cox’s budget speech (18th Feb 08) did not mention Youth Services at all.
What is the budget for fences?
jennychamberlin // August 29, 2008 at 7:32 pm |
Norfolk County Council could not afford to start paying for this type of amenity protection. The Cricket Club members and supporters would have to pay for the fence.
Evan Heasley // October 18, 2008 at 9:30 am |
I have lived on Skelton Road for nearly 12 years and my house backs onto the Rectory Meadow. I have spoken at length to the Diss Express and at town council meetings, myself and a number of residents have got together a petition of 412 signatures( the petition is still growing) against the proposed fence.
I could sympathise with the cricket club if what they were saying was true but unfortunately the cricket club have exaggerated the problems.
This field is a lovely open space for the residents of Diss and not just for the enjoyment of a select few who will only use the meadow for at most 60 days of the year. A fence will not solve any problems except to alienate most residents of Diss.
Unfortunately a fence will probably make any problems worse because as we know if a fence is put up, vandals are more likely to feel they can get away with more behind closed doors.
Jessica Meek // October 20, 2008 at 8:39 am |
Our Town Councillors have voted in favour for a fence to be put right around the Rectory meadow in the centre of Diss. The Crickitors want this fence due to any social behaviour believing that the fence will prevent the problems. However the fence will have a gate open 24hrs a day so the fence will make no difference.
In fact I as a resident can honestly say that the problems associated with the cricket field are no where near as bad as the crickitors led the councillors to believe! It is quoted in the minutes of a council meeting dated the 12th of March that most people who use the cricket field are dog fowlers, underage drinkers, drug uses and petty criminals. This is totally untrue and any one who enjoys the field as it is, will see people giving their much loved dogs a walk and yes picking up after them, Youths playing football, Children playing games, Older people meeting and having a chat and lots of people using it simply as a cut through. All this fence will be doing is ruining a beautiful open space.
The people of Diss do not want this fence, this has been proven by the fact that 411 people signed a petition against it and this number is growing by the day. It has also been proven by the amount of letters against the fence in the Diss Express. I have sat in allot of meetings and council meetings over this fence and I am appalled by the fact a town council who are suppose to act on behalf of the people of Diss continue to vote in favour of something only a tiny proportion of people want. Worse still is the fact that these people are from the cricket club who only use the field for a small proportion of the year!
Why cant the field be left alone and enjoyed for what it is?
Carole Hunt // October 30, 2008 at 6:27 pm |
I noticed how dark it was when picking my children up from a function at the school recently. What about some better lighting along that path, especially where the seat is. The fact that it is so dark must put most people off walking along there and it then becomes ideal for people who want to mess about or worse. What about some sort of CCTV as well, combined with the lighting?
Jenny Chamberlin // November 2, 2008 at 5:16 pm |
Mrs Ryder who lives in Diss and walks the dog of an elderly friend – Mrs Jolly – has asked me to add the comment that she often walks around Rectory Meadow with the dog and does so responsibly. She would also like the meadow to stay open.
Rectory Meadow Action Group // November 10, 2008 at 10:42 pm |
Our action group opposes the fence that the Cricket Club and Town Council want to erect on Rectory Meadow and collects evidence to prove that the people of the town really don’t want it. As well as a petition (now above 500 signatures) we’re collecting comments from local people. Please email recollections or pictures (scanned photos?) of past local activities on the Meadow to recactiongp@googlemail.com
Peter // November 17, 2008 at 6:04 pm |
Wow, great response from people! Does anyone other than the cricket club seriously want this fence?
Anne John // November 21, 2008 at 9:17 am |
I think that money would be better spent building a secure lock up for equipment that the Cricket Club say has been vandalised. The idea of a fence with an open gate is nonsensical.
From what I have read in local papers, the Junior School has suffered much more vandalism than the Cricket Club.