AFTER a peaceful Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Victoria Park opposing the controversial Central 6 low traffic schemes in Westy and Orford, campaigners are already gearing up for their next event at Warrington town hall.
Despite a relatively low turnout, the Teddy Bear’s Picnic was hailed a success by organisers, who are now planning to stage their next protest outside Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet meeting on September 12, when they are hoping most people will be back from holidays – and the weather will certainly be cooler!
The Victoria Park event saw the campaign group introduce their new Super Ted, who took part in a short “skit” performance highlighting the opposition to the low traffic scheme planters!
One of the organisers Rachael Harper said: “It was truly a great day for democracy. To see families come together to oppose the street plans and have fun while doing it was really something special. We didn’t have as many people as we’d like show up considering how many people we know to oppose the plans, but there were many families there. We put the lower attendance down to numerous factors including quite a few people being on holiday, the traveller presence, the heat, and people not wanting to protest in this particular way.
“Our campaign group has always been about standing up and giving a voice to those who don’t feel heard. The voices of families and children are just as important as anybody else’s if we want to instil a sense of democracy into the next generation. Of course, a teddy bear’s protest picnic isn’t for everyone, but my kids and many others absolutely loved it.
“There were no incidents from the travellers and in fact I don’t think any of us saw them, they just kept to themselves. We kept under the shade because the weather was so hot, and you can never be too careful with children.
“We had no to central 6 bingo, a water balloon throwing competition, a raffle, a name the teddy competition, a fun skit, and a ready teddy relay race. There was some really positive feedback from all our attending families afterwards, saying that it was a great day.
“Many will question whether this event was successful if it didn’t have a high turnout, but I don’t view individual events as win or lose situations. We did what we were hoping to do; giving families a chance to come together and oppose these plans in a less aggressive way than some of our other events. That combined with the great feedback we received plus the children’s reactions I think speaks for itself. To me, success would be getting these plans scrapped and the council engaging more people into creating something that actually works for the community. Each event that we organise, and hold is in service of that outcome. As long as people are still talking about the campaign, our events and making some noise in terms of our opposing the planters then we must be doing something right.
Rachael added: “For our next event, we will be back to doing a full protest demonstration outside the town hall for the cabinet meeting; on the 12th September at 6pm. With everyone back off holidays and eager to oppose these plans as much as we are, we should in theory get a great turnout. Hopefully, we’ll have heard more from our council by then about the results of the survey in the Westy/Latchford area and what is happening with the revised plans for the Orford area.
