I FULLY support the town council regarding its proposal to reinstate the paddling pool in Simmons Park. This will be a wonderful addition to what is already an exceptional park.

M Wadmore, in his/her letter (Okehampton Times, March 4), is quite right that safety aspects need to be carefully considered. But this is not a reason to can the scheme.

Let?s just get this into perspective. According to recent DTI statistics there are an estimated 384 accidents involving paddling pools in public places across the country each year.

This compares with 14,000 on swings, 22,000 on climbing frames and 14,000 on slides. All of these should be removed from the park at once.

Another 136,000 accidents occur on playing fields and another 97,000 on other grassed areas.

The council will need to concrete everything over, I think.

Trees are another accident hotspot, contributing to 25,000 accidents a year. I can lend the council a chainsaw if they need one. There are also over 500,000 accidents involving other people.

Perhaps we should just close the park and be done with it.

On his/her wider concern about the encroaching compensation culture in the UK. This is something to be resisted at all costs. This will be achieved by the reasonable majority of the population resisting and condemning such anti-social behaviour.

At the end of the day, legislation and the judiciary will reflect the views and values of the majority. Such is the nature of democracy.

I am not opposing reasonable and legitimate claims for compensation ? just the payment of so-called compensation for what are genuinely accidents, or for acts of stupidity.

We all have a responsibility for our own safety and for the safety of our children.

As to his suggestion of putting the pool in the Parklands Sports Centre ? who wants to go paddling indoors?!

Simon Jeffery

Northlake

Stockley

Okehampton