CONCERNS RAISED OVER PAIGNTON PLAY PARK CONSULTATON

11.06.43am GMT Tue 15th Dec 2009

Paignton Councillor Ian Doggett has written to Torbay Council Chief Executive Elizabeth Raikes, raising concerns about the consultation over the proposed Paignton play park.

Councillor Doggett's letter says:

I am very supportive of having a play park in Paignton, which will be a great facility. However, I am writing to you to share my concerns about the consultation being carried out for the proposed Play Park on Paignton Green.

The consultation is being conducted by 'The Beach Hut' Community magazine (a copy is enclosed) and is headlined, "This is your last chance to support the project." It then goes onto say, "Vote Now! For a world class play park on Paignton Green". I am sure that you will agree that this is not exactly an impartial introduction to a consultation. There is no opportunity for people to vote against the Paignton Green site.

Pages 2 and 3 are an advertorial for the project, which states that Paignton Green "is the only viable location for the proposed Play Park due to funding criteria." I also feel that the questions are loaded in favour of the proposal, and do not encourage residents to offer any alternative venues for the Play Park.

Also, it concerns me that the Council freepost address is gives for respondents to use. It strikes me that council taxpayers money is being used to support a very biased consultation. The message seems to me that the Play Park on Paignton Green is a done deal.

Please could you look into the possibility of a proper, impartial consultation being undertaken, which does not steer respondents into a particular direction, and allows all options to be considered?

I understand that the data from the Beach Hut magazine will be presented to the Lottery fund advisers as evidence of public consultation. The council should not endorse partial consultation documents, which leaves the authority open to legal challenge.

Commenting on his letter Councillor Doggett said, "I very much support having a play park in Paignton. However, I am concerned about the way the consultation is being carried out - it is not impartial and does not seem to allow for suggestions for alternative venues. Use of the council's freepost address seems to me to be inappropriate use of public money for a biased consultation.