The Future of Uplands Park - Public Consultation

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council are to hold a public consultation on the future of Uplands Par. The event will take place on Tuesday 4 September 2007, between 3pm and 7.30pm in the Pavilion within the park on Uplands Road. The public are invited to give their thoughts and comments on improvemets such as additional tree planting, flower beds, paths, security and play facilities.

I welcome this. Parks are amenities for the whole population - not just for dog walkers and footballers. On the continent people place a much greater value on civic space. In the UK, we sometimes tend to treat public space as simply for moving around in. Hence our rather dismal precincts and pavements. The only people who linger, talk and enjoy them are the young. As they have the place to themselves, what is really a wonderful sharing of social space is sadly seen as loitering and potentially anti-social.

In reality, it's the denial of places to associate, mingle, relax and encounter each other that is precisely anti-social.

While doing a little more mid-evening strolling around the neighbourhood in the past couple of weeks I've been struck by how quiet the streets are. On lovely summer evenings, the only people out and about are adolescents or young adults. Everyone else, it seems, is tucked up in front of the TV or travelling by car.

Neighbours and residents who live near Uplands Park will understandably want to be assured that the activities that take place there will not spoil their lives. But I think we can do a lot more to encourage young people and older people to enjoy our parks and green spaces. Do get along to the consultation if you can.