THE SCHOOL FIELD CONTROVERSY

There have been plans to open the school field to the Jericho public frow after school hours until sunset for about three years now. The school go-erners have come round to the idea with certain provisos which are that someone is responsible for opening and locking the new gate to be put in the wall and there are to be no dogs,no pushchairs and no bicycles. Also it will only be the Grass that is for public use. The Jericho Community Association was hapoy to pay £10.00 a week for a: key—holder. However certain members were worried that the amount of supervision was insufficient and the field needed a full-time caretaker (that is from 4.00pm until sunset) who would be available in case of complaints(of dogs, pushchairs,etc.)and also to tidy up any extra litter. The council have agreed to put up extra litter bins and the Parks Department are happy to provide their usual services of maintenance. It was thought that the level of Parks maintenance was not high enough for the Field so we needed our own person as well. We are seeing if the Council can be persuaded to pay £50-6C a week for this person0If not the field probably won't be offically opened and those who wish to use it will have to continue to climb over(or under)the gates and walls. The fact of there being only nine ins. of top soil was brought up but we did not envisage the new users (if the field were opened) to be numerous enough to endanger the 'grass and,besides,we could always close the field temporarily should the grass get too worn. Some of the Association wanted a rota of volunteer field supervisors while others thought the whole project involved too much responsibility and,beside,who wanted the field opened anyway.. Well,who does? Comments:c/o Jericho Echo,Community Centre,tanal St. please.