The other week I visited Burbage Primary School as part of Democracy Week. The idea is that Councillors go into schools and tell them about how the Council works and how they can get involved in the democratic process.
I met two classes - Amethyst and Crystal - and they were both really inspiring. Great teachers and lovely kids - very polite, full of ideas and very passionate about their local area. Most of them will be attending the new Bridge Academy on Laburnum Street and I was impressed by how much they knew about the new school and how excited they were about going.
We discussed all the things they wanted to see the Council do in their area to make it a better place. We then voted on a short list of issues to put in a letter to the Mayor so he can write back to them with a response.
All the kids were very concerned about security on estates and they had a number of ideas about how it could be improved. One idea was fingerprint recognition technology so only genuine residents and people like the postman could get in. They also wanted to see more proper sports facilities for kids in our parks as they felt some of the parks were a bit boring with not a lot to do.
Two of the other ideas were a bit more left field.
Dog Buses
As in buses for dogs so they don't annoy people on human buses.
Shoreditch Park Beach
A beach in the park each Summer so kids don't have to go "all the way to the countryside" to enjoy the beach.
We await the Mayor's response.
Cllr McShane
2 comments:
I think a beach in the park is an excellent idea - although maybe less new Labour than increased security, so I can see why the councillor labelled it "left field". It seems right to me that kids should be thinking about ways to have fun, and rather sad that they are talking about installing fingerprint recognition technology.
Probably unfair to lump the beach idea with dog buses - point taken. It is sad that young people are so concerned with their own safety - they also mentioned speeding around estates as a concern. I'm glad that we are putting door entry sytems in every block that wants one and fighting for 20mph zones across Haggerston.
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