This may be of interest to the Friends of Whaley Park, members of the Bowling Club, Whaley Football Club, Fedup or more likely absolutely nobody.
Now don’t let me down Fedup.
It’s a tale of as one bridge appears another disappears, political infighting between the Park Committee and The Bowling Club.
And would you believe it: German guns?
Yes brace yourselves: German guns. Granted not quite the Guns of Navarone but German guns all the same.
Most of the text is from old Press cuttings. Feel free to comment on any or all these articles as often as you like; or more probably not at all.
It’s all a bit long and drawn out and extremely boring in places, (I had trouble staying awake whilst typing it) so I shall present it in 5 or 6 episodes.
Hey, now there you go, ‘episodes’ it’s sounding better already. Personally I can’t wait.
Right let’s get going it’s already 2010 and this is going to be a mighty long job.
(NB: Blue text is from Press Cuttings; Black text is from Your’s Truly)
PART 1:
12 November 1921
ANOTHER BRIDGE
Whaley Bridge has many bridges, and the place does not belie its name. Another has been added just recently. It gives access from the premises of the Bowling Club to the War Memorial Park, and thence on to the football field. Originally there was but a plank here. But now there is a substantial bridge. This particular bridge is the property of the Bowling Club, and is for the use of members only.
3 June 1922
A ROAD TO THE PARK
For a considerable time people have been gaining access to the park by a bridge from the Bowling and Tennis Club's premises. This is much more convenient for residents of Buxton road than going by Reservoir Road or Macclesfield Road entrances. On Sunday there was a concert in the park and people going by the Bowling Club entrance were surprised to find the gate locked and the bridge closed. Naturally this gave rise to much comment.
The fact is that the bridge in question was erected originally by the Football Club, whose headquarters and dressing rooms are at the Bowling Club, for the convenience of access to the football field through the park. The bridge was found very convenient for members of the Bowling Club, who reside at the Macclesfield Road side of the village, so the bridge was purchased by the Bowling Club, who pay an annual acknowledgement to the Park Committee for the privilege.
There was a desire to make the bridge a public entrance to the park. The Bowling Club was willing to allow the privilege provided the Co-operative Society would give access to the bridge from their land. The Co-operative Society declined to do so for reasons which have already been stated, but they offered an alternative road at the other end of their property at a nominal rent of 5s, a year. A bridge has not yet been erected and there the matter stands for the present. The Bowling Club is not open on Sundays and the attitude of the Bowling Committee is that they cannot permit a public highway to run through their premises.
Many people call the Bowling Club a public club. It is no more a public club than the Co-operative Society is a public society. The privileges of either institution are dependent upon membership thereof, and the committee of each have a perfect right to do what they think fit with their property. The views of the committee and the views of the community may not coincide, but that does not alter the fact. People have made a practice of using the Bowling Club entrance to the park without need, and when either of the other entrances would be more convenient. The way to prevent friction is for the Park Committee to erect the bridge they now have the permission to build from the Co-operative Society's land.
28 June 1924
THE MEMORIAL PARK
Several important matters were discussed at the meeting of the War Memorial Park Committee on Monday evening:
It was reported that Taxal Parish Council had been invested with the powers of the Open Spaces Act and had confirmed the bye laws for the control of the park. The park cannot be closed at any time because a public footpath runs through it. There is a great demand for a bridge to be erected over the river so as to give access to the park from Buxton road. The Co-operative Society has prevented people going over their premises because of the damage done to property and access has now to be gained from Reservoir road or Macclesfield road.
The committee cannot raise the necessary funds because the spending powers of Parish Councils are limited and they can do little beyond maintain the park. A swimming gala was held last summer at which a considerable sum of money was raised. The members felt that another aquatic gala would be as great a success and it was decided to ask the same committee to organise another gala to raise funds to provide a bridge. It is hoped the public will give every support to the object, which, when accomplished, will be a great public convenience. (Er hope not)
The committee decided to accept three guns captured by the Sherwood Foresters from the Germans during the Great War and place them in a suitable position in the park.
What!! Captured German guns eh? Now I wonder what happened to them then.
Perhaps Cllr Jon has them strategically positioned around Toddbrook for reasons best known to himself.