Big Bruvver
Out of context: Reply #5
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That happens a lot TBO. Just down the road from me Fat Boy Slim / Norman Cook conceived of and entirely funded a skate park for local kids. He became a pariah in the area because he had provided a sort of melting pot for kids to congregate and get into all sorts of trouble. Such a big stink was kicked up that he felt obligated to withdraw entirely from the project for fear of becoming public enemy number one.
The skate park is still there, and the local kids DO congregate in it, and they drink, smoke, swear, shout, fuck around... all the things you do at that age. But at least they do it there, not in residential streets, which was where they were doing it until Norman Cook put his hand in his pocket to change the situation.
On the flipside, my Mom & Dad's local council in Birmingham built a big recreation area in the poor neighbourhood half a mile from my parent's. It was beautifully done by all accounts. All landscaped and made of really nice materials. The mayor was booked to come and officially open it. The night before however, somebody came along and stole it.
And I do mean they stole an entire children's recreation area... climbing frames, swings, slides, a giant roundabout, the playsafe rubber tarmac flooring, fencing, gates, paving slabs, the stone walls... everything.