A New Year lies ahead. If I could be granted one wish for the
Council side of my life it would be fairly easy to decide what that would be,
That those in Medway who seem to take such a delight in messing things up for everyone else develop a social conscience! Now that would be something to talk about!
The overwhelming majority of people in Medway already have that regard for others –;a respect for people, property and places. Sadly there remains a minority who do not.
Wrecked play areas, smashed bus shelters and telephone kiosks. Burnt
out cars and litter scattered here and there are part of our modern legacy.
As the festive season draws to a close my email inbox begins to record the tale of woe once again. This time it concerns vandalised play
areas.
In Medway the council has 86 play areas. Based at various locations
throughout the towns these small areas offer swings and slides etc. for young children to amuse themselves on.
Yet the play areas seem to act as a magnet for vandals, with a catalogue of destruction evident for all to see. Medway Council has a budget for such things, and you cannot help but think how sad it is that anti-vandalism budgets have to be funded in the first place.
For the current year this budget is projected to be overspent by more than £100,000. We could find a better use for that £100,000.
Vandalised play equipment cannot be used by the public, and cannot be made available on safety grounds. So the repairs have to be made, and the sooner the better so that the facility is available for the public when required.
For the private sector it is a different story, for they do not have the same social obligations as a council. Thus I can think of a telephone kiosk blown apart with fireworks by vandals as part of their bonfire night celebrations which has been removed –;end of problem for BT!
Then there is the vandalised post box. Removed by the provider –;again, the end of the problem. But in both cases it is the community that loses out.
So for 2003 is my wish too much to hope for? Probably!