Surely our fellow subjects who have in most cases worked all their lives and in many cases are war veterans deserve the bowling green.
They have contributed taxes all their lives and are also local tax payers now.
Young people are not tax payers and seem to get a lot free , like buses etc.
Probably the reason they will not consider a skate board facility is because of the legal costs when little Justin or Jeremy fall over.

Brian

I usually fight the urge to respond to your bigoted/racist/xenophobic/ageist posts as it just makes me angry and I suspect your views are too ingrained to be changed but I take issue with everything you say here.

1. Whether or not people who play bowls are subjects of the crown is irrelevant. Equally, by saying "our fellow subjects", you make an assumption that everyone who posts on this forum is British - this is London and thus a foolish assumption to make.

2. Everyone deserves recreation facilities, just because someone fought in a war neither increases nor decreases the level of deserving.

3. Taxes - are you suggesting we reintroduce child labour so that kids can start earning enough to contribute? To suggest that just because someone hasn't started his/her working life means they deserve nothing is an utter nonsense.

4. There are skateboard parks all over London and all will come with the usual legal disclaimers to limit liability and if a claim ever got to Court you can pretty much guarantee that "little Justin or Jeremy" (interesting choice of names by the way) would be adjudged to be, if not wholly, then pretty close to, contributorily negligent.

5. Finally, you would be the first on this site to start banging on about gangs of roaming youths and spectres of chaos and disorder - surely one of the best ways of tackling anti-social behaviour is to give kids outlets - such as skateboard parks?

It is called humour old chap. You surely did not take it seriously.

As you do not know me I find your personal suumptions that I am racist etc very strange. For instance a fact is that we are all subjects not citizens , choice of names a complete joke. I will not bother to justify your posting with any further comment
Have a great day

I am not a chap, nor am I old. And do me a favour with your "it was a joke" excuse.

And the fact remains, I am not British, I am not therefore a subject. I choose to live in this country and I am very happy here and I take part in all aspects of society - still doesn't make me a subject.

True, I don't know you, and it was not you I was taking issue with, merely your attitudes - a cursory glance through a number of the threads on this site are sufficient to appraise me of them.

Do I have time to get some popcorn in before it all kicks off?

OK I accept my humour is an aquired taste and I very much apologise if I have caused upset.
I will try to be more serious in future
Have a good weekend

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_subject

"On 1 January 1983, upon the coming into force of the British Nationality Act 1981, every Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies became either a British Citizen, British Dependent Territories Citizen or British Overseas Citizen.

The use of the term "British subject" was discontinued for all persons who fell into these categories, or who had a national citizenship of any other part of the Commonwealth. The category of "British subjects" now includes only those people formerly known as "British subjects without citizenship", and no other. In statutes passed before 1 January 1983, however, references to "British subjects" continue to be read as if they referred to "Commonwealth citizens".

British citizens are not British subjects under the British Nationality Act 1981. The only circumstance where a person may be both a British subject and British citizen simultaneously is a case where a British subject connected with Ireland (s. 31 of the 1981 Act) acquires British citizenship by naturalisation or registration. In this case only, British subject status is not lost upon acquiring British citizenship."


So actually brian's reference to "fellow subjects" was directed at a foreign born minority group that is becoming extinct.

I suspect that definition scores more than enough political correctness points to allow them to play their Egyptian games where ever they want.

Brian, congratulations for speaking out in favour of a part of our community that is under-represented on this forum: people that have supported and contributed to the community over the course of many, many years, who are rarely strident in their demands and who have earned the right to our support and respect. It would be wonderful to hear more from our senior residents.

Firstly apologies if I was incorrect re subject / citizen. To be honest I was unaware of this and apologise. I certainly did not mean to offend anyone.

Thanks Toffee Jim for your comments. I think my comments were a bit over the top but only do it to get a reaction , and I certainly did !!!!!!!!!
A good weekend to all

Nicely put, toffeejim. It does seem that a disproportionate amount of money is spent on youth "crime diversion". Just because hell's grannies don't graffiti on the high street, it shouldn't mean that they don't get their share of dedicated outdoor recreational facilities.

Actually, bowls is not exclusively played by senior citizens (or whatever the politically correct term is for old people).

They'd prefer the skatepark then, maybe?

It looks as if Lewisham has secured funding for this bowling club.

See this link:
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NewsAndEvents...unding.htm

Actually, I am in favour of the skatepark. Young people deserve leisure facilities too.

In Australia bowls is being opened up to a new generation through a little creative marketing:

http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNew...6320070430

i am guessing the bowling club may have around 50 active members - that makes it ?1,000 per member - is this good value for council taxpayers money?

I wonder what would be the response if local residents asked for ?50k to do up the children's play area that is used by hundreds of people, and is shabby to say the least.

(I am feeling especially grumpy at the moment because I went to Sydenham Wells Park at the weekend for the first time in years - it is beautiful; well kept, great facilities, well tended gardens, lovely planted areas, an excellent children's play area etc etc. Then on my way back I went through Mayow Park - down at heel, scruffy, grass badly cut, trees falling into neglect. is there a reason Mayow Park seems so overlooked?)

I must admit does seem a lot if you mention per member. Problem everything has to be paid out of limited budget.
Horniman's Gardens are excellent 10 out of 10. Some of the others not so good.
Not sure Mayow too bad. They could do with reopening cafe . Seems to me they have a good kiddies play area.

I think Mayow is doing well given the lack of focus / attention it gets. It is a shame the cafe is boarded up - can anyone remember when this was last open?

I think Mayow Park is generally OK - but then I must admit to really only using it as part of a jogging route.

I've thought about using the Mayow Park tennis courts, but quite often see people waiting for a while for a vacant court. I assume use is purely on a first come first served (no pun intended) basis?

On the bowls front (certainly not a regular player) but was introduced to it by friends when visiting them in Hove. There is a nice beach front lawn down there which, on a sunny day with a cold beer or two, is a really good day out.

"not too bad", "boarded up cafe", "generally OK" - not exactly ringing endorsements are they!

take a jog up to Wells Park fatrascal, and you will see what I mean.
and Brian, unless I am mistaken, Lewisham Council don't look after Horniman Gardens, the Horniman do.

Lewisham Council CAN do a good job - see Wells Park, or Manor House Gardens in Lee for examples - but I think Mayow Park is very poor by comparison.

Nutfield , you are probably correct re Horniman's . However just shows what can be done. But you can see it is expensive there always seems to be staff and gardeners there and working. Most other local parks only seem to warrant occasional visits by the councils contracted supplier.