MOTHER PLEADS: LEAVE MY DEAD DAUGHTER'S TREES IN PEACE

Ursuline College phone number 01843 834431

THANET ACTION GROUP

11 Grosvenor Road, Broadstairs, KENT CT10 2BT

01843 604253

 

PRESS RELEASE

MARCH 2011

 

MOTHER PLEADS: LEAVE MY DEAD DAUGHTER'S TREES IN PEACE

 

A woman who planted trees in loving memory of her daughter in Broadstairs' Pierremont Park is begging the council to think again about plans to build in the park.

 

Mrs Kathy Carr's daughter Ajanta died 30 years ago this month in a tragic drowning accident off Ramsgate seafront when she was ten years old. Her family planted trees in Pierremont Park in her memory.

 

Mrs Carr said: "I was saddened to hear there are plans to a build a large new community centre in Pierremont Park and that trees and parkland will be lost to make way for this development."

 

Mrs Carr added: "My daughter would have been 40 this month and the park holds pleasant memories for me and the community at large."

 

After the death of her daughter, Mrs Carr wrote a book of poetry "The Rich Pattern Of Mind" which, she said, brought comfort to many people grieving for the loss of loved ones.

 

Mrs Carr said: "It would be a comfort to know the park will always be there unspoilt and peaceful, so people can remember happier times and be at peace with nature."

 

Mr Carr, who is known for her volunteering work locally, said: "Parks like Pierremont must be protected from development of any kind and preserved for everyone to enjoy."

 

Opposition to the plans to erect the new building in the park is growing, according to local resident Norman Thomas.

 

Mr Thomas said: "Every day people ring me and express their anger over the plans. People are horrified at the prospect of the loss of trees."

 

"They simply don't believe council reassurances that there will be minimum damage.  Many people want a new community centre – but a small, local, much-loved park is absolutely the wrong place to build it."

 

"And Broadstairs Town council still have serious questions to answer about the funding of the project and also their plans to re-landscape the park by planting semi-mature trees. We have it on good authority that these plans are not feasible. "

 

A meeting to discuss what to do next about trying to save the park will be held on Friday March 18^th in the Park Hut, in Pierremont Park at 7.30pm.

 

"This is a crisis situation," said Mr Thomas, "Anyone who feels strongly about what's happening to our park should come and discuss what can be done."

 

For more info or pictures contact Norman Thomas, 01843 604253