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WHAT DO YOU THINK? Whitby tot 'a health and safety hazard'
A TOT was called a health and safety hazard by a council employee while learning to ride his tiny bike with stabilisers in Whitby's Pannett Park.
And you can have your say on this story at the bottom of the page.
Mum Melanie Liu, of Hudson Street, on the West Cliff, has been left exasperated and upset after she said she was told three-year-old Jude had to get off the knee-high bicycle or leave the park because of a bizarre bylaw.
Mrs Liu (36) was in the park last Wednesday afternoon with the youngster who was learning to ride, well away from the play area and far from people, when she was approached by a Scarborough Borough Council park officer.
She was told the reason behind the request was a Whitby bylaw passed in 1950 prohibiting all bikes from the park. It does not exist in Scarborough.
The mum, who is eight months pregnant with her second child, said: "When I asked why, he told me that my son was a health and safety hazard.
"I asked Mr Roe if we were able to come to the park on my son's tiny ride on push along car instead, his answer was the same.
"I think they are taking political correctness to ridiculous levels. The bike is no higher than my knee and I'm 5ft 1.
"I had to leave afterwards, my son was quite upset. We've been taking him to the park since he was born."
The mum is all the more frustrated as on previous occasions and the day she was spoken to, she saw teenagers riding adult bikes in the play area of the park.
She has also witnessed numerous instances where dogs have been let loose in the play area and where teens have been drinking alcohol.
"Surely these are real health and safety issues, not a pre-schooler on a bike with stabilisers," she added.
"I prefer my son to exercise, rather than arrive at the park in a pushchair.
"Surely a push chair is a bigger health and safety hazard rather than a small, little bike.
"We are supposed to be encouraging health and fitness in our youngsters. I feel like a child's fun and something that's going to help their future wellbeing is being jeopardised for some stupid petty law passed in 1950.
"I have no problem with following rules and regulations.
"The sign they had up was really really tiny inside the park and not at the park gates. I didn't even know it was there.
"I'm going to fight to get the bylaw changed."
Roger Burnett, Scarborough Borough Council's parks and countryside manager, said: "The bylaw in operation in the park states that cycles are permitted, but people have to walk with them and push them along rather than ride on them.
"Our park officer did approach the lady and her son to tell her about this bylaw and confirm that cycles were not banned from the park, but at no time did he ask her to leave the park. He also advised her that if she felt strongly about the issue, she could write and complain to the council.
"On the issue of bikes, scooters, skateboards, dogs and under-age drinking, we work closely with park rangers, the local police and the Friends of Pannett Park to ensure that not only are the bylaws adhered to, but more importantly the public understand them."
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Weather for Scarborough
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South
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Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to -1 C
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