Leisure attraction bans single people "on child protection grounds"

Back in 2008 I blogged about a bizarre policy of Telford and Wrekin Council. As so often, I quoted the Shropshire Star:

Council staff on the lookout for paedophiles have been ordered to stop and quiz any adults found walking in Telford Town Park without a child, it was revealed today. 

Anyone who wants to go to the park but is not accompanied by at least one youngster will have to explain why they are there.

Today, courtesy of the Western Gazette, comes news that Puxton Park, "a family-orientated leisure attraction near Weston-super-Mare," has banned single people from visiting "on child protection grounds."

The park's managing director, Alistair Mead, is quoted as defending this bizarre policy in the following terms:

"There is a lot in the headlines about paedophiles and things that are going on with children. 

"We have done our research and in line with all other parks we don't let single men or women in."

You wonder how extensive this research was.

And Mr Mead should bear in mind what happened in Telford. As a later post, quoting the Telford Journal, explained:

Conservative Councillor Denis Allen was suddenly axed from his cabinet position this week as member for community services. 

Last week it was revealed Councillor Allen was taking a month-long break from his role, prompting rumours that he had been suspended. 

Telford & Wrekin, however, put out a statement saying Councillor Allen had been advised to take a “well deserved rest.” 

And there's more: 

now the leader of the Labour group, Keith Austin, says Councillor Allen had come under fire - and was under investigation - over the Telford Town Park paedophile fiasco. 

He was the one who authorised routine stop-checks on single people walking in the park’s recreational areas, claimed Councillor Austin.

Two Tory councillors resign from Telford & Wrekin group

Telford & Wrekin councillors Denis Allen and George Ashcroft have today resigned the Conservative whip. Their action follows a "significant deterioration in the working relationship between them and the leader of the Conservative group at Telford & Wrekin".

Telford & Wrekin Council Watch has all the details.

The Conservative-run council became notorious earlier this year for harassing innocent penguins and questioning single people found in the town's parks.

Revenge of the Telford penguins?

Remember the fiasco of the Telford penguins and the Tory-run council's policy of challenging any lone adults found in the town park in case they are paedophiles? Let me refresh your memory.

Anyway, Telford & Wrekin Council Watch points us to a story in the Telford Journal, which gives the intriguing latest chapter in this story:

Conservative Councillor Denis Allen was suddenly axed from his cabinet position this week as member for community services.

Last week it was revealed Councillor Allen was taking a month-long break from his role, prompting rumours that he had been suspended.

Telford & Wrekin, however, put out a statement saying Councillor Allen had been advised to take a “well deserved rest.”

And there's more:

now the leader of the Labour group, Keith Austin, says Councillor Allen had come under fire - and was under investigation - over the Telford Town Park paedophile fiasco.

He was the one who authorised routine stop-checks on single people walking in the park’s recreational areas, claimed Councillor Austin.

Telford penguins victimised again

The Conservative-run Telford & Wrekin Borough Council has made a laughing stock of itself again. Yes, it has returned to victimising the Telford penguins.

Telford & Wrekin Council Watch tells us that a "green day" is to be held in Madeley Park on Sunday 5 October. And Rachel Whittaker, one of the penguins, had been invited to attend. Now that invitation has been withdrawn without explanation.

The website comments:

The Council know who this collective are, they know the contents of the leaflet they wish to distribute and have previously distributed, but in a weird twist say they do not know who they are.

Don't they read the Shropshire Star? I know I do.

Later. More in the Star.

Telford park row: Council backs down

From the Shropshire Star:

Telford & Wrekin council boss Andrew Eade today stepped into the patrols in the park row and admitted: “We made a mistake and I’m sorry.”

The council leader stressed that there was no question of adults being stopped and quizzed just because they were in the Town Park without children.

Councillor Eade spoke out after council sports and recreation manager David Ottley caused a row by revealing in a letter that childless adults could be stopped by wardens and asked to explain what they were doing in the park.

But Mr Eade said this afternoon the letter “incorrectly stated the situation”.

I would be inclined to believe that the whole thing had been exagerrated if it weren't for the newspapers video, which I posted yesterday.

Telford & Wrekin Council Watch also defends the Star:

They have also accused the Shropshire Star of exaggerating the story, I and others firmly believe that the Shropshire Star have covered this crazy issue very thoroughly and fairly, including video evidence of the councils attempt to enforce a police state.

Remember:

When they came for the penguins,
I did not speak out;
I was not a penguin.

Telford park story reaches national press

The story about Telford & Wrekin Council questioning people without children in the town's main park has begun to reach the national press - try the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail.

And this video from the Shropshire Star shows the policy in action...

Telford Park: Some blogosphere reaction

The story about single people being stopped and asked why they are in Telford Central Park has not made the national press yet. Perhaps now you see why I prefer to get my news from the Shropshire Star.

But several bloggers have picked it up:

• Borrow a Child to go to Telford Town Park (telford-live.com)
• Telford tries its hand at facism (Wonko's World)
• Guilty Until Proven Innocent In Telford... (Why England Needs a Parliament)

Telford Council to question single people seen in town park

Earlier today I noticed that someone from Liberty had been reading one of my posts on the Telford penguins. I smiled.

But it isn't funny any more.

This evening's Shropshire Star reports:

Council staff on the lookout for paedophiles have been ordered to stop and quiz any adults found walking in Telford Town Park without a child, it was revealed today.

Anyone who wants to go to the park but is not accompanied by at least one youngster will have to explain why they are there.

As you would expect, there is more on the indefatigable Telford & Wrekin Council Watch:

This policy is flawed and is an indication of the “Wholesale Scaremongering” that only Telford and Wrekin Council are capable of endorsing.

Telford Town Park has once and for all lost its appeal and having walked there myself since this policy revelation, I and others now feel uncomfortable walking in a Park we once enjoyed and as decent people have every right to be in ...

The letter below clearly states,

“Staff approach adults that are not associated with any children in the Town Park and request the reason for them being there”

It does not differentiate between one area or another and does not say “around Childs Play Areas” nor does it define the areas in which children only are allowed to play.

If this really is the council's policy then it marks a new low in our national panic about the threat to children.

The Telford penguins speak

Video courtesy of the Shropshire Star (of course).

More about the penguins here.

The Telford penguins: I am not alone

A comment on my latest New Statesman website column sends readers to Telford & Wrekin Council Watch.

It has taken up the case of the Telford penguins.

My latest New Statesman column

A new Calder's Comfort Farm can be found on the magazine's website.

It covers Tim Leunig, The Bog Centre, the Telford penguins and Allison Pearson - all subjects that will be familiar to readers of this blog.

Telford penguins refuse to be cowed

More news of the climate campaigners who were asked to leave a Telford park after dressing as penguins and handing out leaflets.

That original newspaper report has led to lively exchanges in the comments. My own favourite runs:

How ridiculous! when people have been mugged in Hollinswood and Wellington……… that’s what we need to be monitoring, not innocent people in penguin suits .

Today the Shropshire Star reports:

Environmental campaigners who had dressed as penguins today defied a ban on handing out leaflets without permission in Telford Town Park.

Rachel Whittaker, of Wellington, was thrown out of the park last week after being told she needed permission, a criminal records bureau check and a risk assessment, before she would be allowed to distribute her leaflets on climate change.

But today she risked being ejected again, after deciding to finish giving out the 200 leaflets she has had printed. Joined by campaigner Graham Bunn, of Madeley, the pair vowed to stay until the job was done.

The 34-year-old once again donned a penguin beak and yellow flippers to highlight the plight of penguins and how they are affected by climate change.

Thanks to the Star for the photograph too.

Authorities swoop on rogue penguins in Telford park

It's time to see how Shropshire is getting on without me. And it's not looking good.

From the Shropshire Star:

Two campaigners dressed as penguins were removed from Telford Town Park after being told they would need a criminal record check and risk assessment to hand out leaflets.

One of the penguins, Rachel Whittaker, 34, from Wellington said:

“It was only a fun thing. I was saying to people ‘Hello I’m a penguin and my ice cap has melted so I’ve ended up in Telford - can I give you a leaflet’. People were loving it.”

But officialdom was not to be moved:

“They have to be CRB checked and risk assessed under the Child Protection Act. There are a lot of children playing in the park at this time of year and we have a duty of care to them and our adult visitors.