There
is a proposal to build some sort of play park in the wooded area of Danson Park. Ropes and zipwire type things hanging from trees. 25/02342/FUL.
We had the same courtesy of the British Army when I lived
on the edge of Aldershot in the 1950s. Kids could use the Paras’ training facilities when there was no live firing in progress
The difference now was that Aldershot was free of charge and Danson Park won’t be. No wonder Councillor
Nick O’Hare was ridiculed by Nicola Taylor
for complaining that Bexley Council keeps flogging off its green spaces and his comment that when it is gone it is gone.
Children’s playgrounds are not the sort of thing that interest me greatly but
as I have a friend who lives more or less opposite the park I asked if she could do me a favour and report back on the meeting.
The report didn’t amount to much and is reproduced here. It looked like a David Curtois
was going to seek election in May and is best friends with Mayor Christine Catterall all of which is perfectly legitimate.
I had forgotten about the Catterall Curtois link, but it is not a secret, and guessed that David was related to Councillor Andrew Curtois. But once again; who cares?
There was a time when five Bexley Councillors were related to another five and no one much cared about that either.
Then someone who keeps an eye on Planning applications found 26/00396/FUL. (The search button returned Not Found for me
but a search for the address, West Lodge, Danson Lane does the trick.)
That application comes from Mr. Andrew Curtois who
has some extensive alterations to his home in mind. Unlike one of his
predecessors he declares himself a Councillor as he is required to do. A certain
lady Councillor not renowned for her honesty failed to do that. Such a
declaration ensures that the application goes to the Planning Committee so that
everything is beyond reproach. And of course 26/00396 is.
But this Go Ape park is right next door to West Lodge which is not at all nice
for the Councillor who lives there. An awkward situation if ever there was one. It
might not go down well with Bexley Council to fight the Go Ape plans but maybe
getting one’s father, who it appears to be, to run the protest group might be a neat way out of the dilemma.
West Lodge top left of both pictures. Google Earth on the right.
Some are saying this is a bit of a scandal though I cannot quite see how. I asked the friend who attended the meeting if Dave Curtois said anything about
West Lodge and she thinks that on reflection he probably did say he lived nearby.
Andrew Curtois is not a Councillor who has ever showed any interest in Bonkers, if he had done so I might have asked him about his interest in the Go Ape
application but as it is, I think those looking for another Bexley Council scandal will be sorely disappointed.