Q2A

Got an enquiry ........

if my local park was to be closed down and turned into a car park what should me and my
friends do to prevent it? who can I speak to, for example the council? can anyone help?
What can be done by others to stop this? please help!

This is our reply.......

Hi Stockton, thanks for contacting q2a.

First of all find out if there is a definite plan to close your local park. You can do this by
contacting your local community or residents association if there is one, or by contacting
your local ward councillor. You can call in, telephone or email your local council to find
your local association or councillor:

· Chorley Borough Council, Civic Offices, Union Street, Chorley. Telephone: 01257
515151, email: contact@chorley.gov.uk .

If there is a definite plan to close the park ask who has made the decision - it will probably
be your local council which is Chorley Borough Council. You and your friends could then
try to get support in your district of Chorley for a campaign to keep the park open. We
suggest you do some research first:

· Find out who uses the park e.g. obviously you and your friends but maybe also
parents and children, dog owners, walkers or joggers. You could do a survey e.g. spend
say a couple of hours in the park counting the different people who use it, and what they're
doing
· Make a list of the facilities in the park e.g. sports pitches, skate park, children's
play area, boating lake or pond. Make a list of what would be lost
· Do a survey of the trees, flowers and other plants, birds, animals, insects etc. and
make a list of what would be lost

When you've gathered all your information ask your local community or residents
association, or local your councillor if they will support you in a campaign to keep the park
open. If they will, great! If they won't, don't be downhearted because there's a lot you can
do yourselves. With or without help you can:

· write to your local councillor (if they're not actively supporting you), explain briefly
why you're writing (you want the park to stay open) and attach a copy of your surveys
· write to your local newspaper: Letters to the Editor, Chorley Guardian, 32a Market
Street, Chorley. PR7 2RY. Or email them through their website at http://www.chorley-
guardian.co.uk/contactus.aspx, tick the 'Editor/News desk/sports desk' box
· contact your local radio, they'll have a slot when they promote local events and
causes for free: Chorley FM, 37 Steeley Lane,
Chorley. PR6 0RJ. Telephone: 01257 262661. Or email them through their website at:
http://www.chorley.fm, click on 'Contact Us'. Rock FM, St Paul's Square, Preston. PR1
1YE. Telephone: 01772 477700. Or email through their website at
http://www.rockfm.co.uk/contactus.asp
· if you have access to the Internet start a Facebook page. Publicise this when
you talk to any of the above
· start a petition and collect the signatures and addresses of people who will
support your campaign. Ask your local council if you can set up a table somewhere busy
e.g. near the local shops, and go door-to-door as well

Sample petition form

THE CLOSURE OF (name of park) PARK, IN THE (NAME OF DISTRICT) IN CHORLEY

We the undersigned petition (name of council - probably Chorley Borough Council) to
reverse the decision to close (name of park) Park in the (name of district), Chorley in order
that all members of the community may continue to enjoy the open space and facilities
provided by (........) Park.

SIGNATURE ADDRESS POSTCODE
1 Anyperson 1 Any Street, Chorley PR7 2AB
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

If you'd like help with any of the suggestions we've made you can get support from the
Young People's Service in Chorley from either the workers in the InfoCentre or from the
Youth Council:

· InfoCentre for Young People, 61-63 Market Street, Chorley. PR7 2SN. Telephone
01257 248900. Open: Monday-Friday 9.30am-5pm. You don't need an appointment, you
can just drop in
· Chorley Youth Council, the person to contact is Emma Johnson, 07584 581378,
you can leave a message on her voicemail and she'll get back to you.

We hope you find what we've said in our reply helpful. Please email us again if we can
help further, about this or anything else.

Good Luck and Best wishes

from q2a.

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