Thread about opening up public spaces that today are owned and closed by the Church of England. This may be of interest to you, as a general reader, also to @GuyShrubsole & @RosamundUrwin & @RamblersGB.
It focuses on a local case study in Chester but it could apply anywhere. 1/X
It focuses on a local case study in Chester but it could apply anywhere. 1/X
The big green patch is Deans Field in Chester, named after the Dean of Chester Cathedral. It is by far the largest green space inside Chester's historic City Walls.
Many people live inside the walls. They used to come to the field to picnic, jog, play footie, cricket, etc.
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Many people live inside the walls. They used to come to the field to picnic, jog, play footie, cricket, etc.
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A few years ago Chester Cathedral added an extra set of steps off the City walls to Deans Field. Chester Cathedral have committed publicly to increasing public access to this field in the past under a planning application.
Instead @ChesterCath edral have closed it off.
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Instead @ChesterCath edral have closed it off.
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Influential in @ChurchOfEngland, Chester Cathedral promised "free public access" as a ploy to get planning permission for a private birds of prey display, which you have to pay for to attend. Anyone entering, even when it is closed, gets thrown off by security goons.
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4/X
The Dean of Chester Cathedral, after whom Deans Field is named, was asked when the promised "free public access" would actually happen.
He declined to give any date for when this promised "free public assess would happen". His reason was that...
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He declined to give any date for when this promised "free public assess would happen". His reason was that...
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The Church Land called Deans Field In Chester could not be used for free public access because:
1. The Cathedral had put had birds of prey on it.
2. There had been drugs litter on it some years ago.
3. He was unable to get insurance for it.
1. The Cathedral had put had birds of prey on it.
2. There had been drugs litter on it some years ago.
3. He was unable to get insurance for it.
Of course:
1. The Cathedral put birds of prey there (only 5% of the time) precisely to exclude the public.
2. Drugs litter from years ago is an out of date excuse to exclude the public.
3. They could get insurance for it but are too stingy. Another excuse to exclude the public.
1. The Cathedral put birds of prey there (only 5% of the time) precisely to exclude the public.
2. Drugs litter from years ago is an out of date excuse to exclude the public.
3. They could get insurance for it but are too stingy. Another excuse to exclude the public.
Having asked bishop of York @JohnSentamu if it's wise to close this big patch of city centre land because the lack of local space to exercise in would in effect cause illness
less exercise - unfitness - less covid survival
more congestion elsewhere - more infections...
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less exercise - unfitness - less covid survival
more congestion elsewhere - more infections...
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Basically closing off land that people could benefit from increases infections & unfitness & deaths (converse also true).
Church is killing people!
Bishop said contact @cheshirepolice. I did. No reply. Maybe saving lives via consequential thinking not high on to-do list?
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Church is killing people!
Bishop said contact @cheshirepolice. I did. No reply. Maybe saving lives via consequential thinking not high on to-do list?
9/X
I contacted Dean of Chester Cathedral quoting UK gov:
...exercise is important for physical & mental health, so people can leave their homes for exercise once a day....
See:
gov.uk/government/new…
Read TOP bullet:
...use open spaces near your home where possible...
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...exercise is important for physical & mental health, so people can leave their homes for exercise once a day....
See:
gov.uk/government/new…
Read TOP bullet:
...use open spaces near your home where possible...
10/X
Asked Dean of @ChesterCath edral:
Q1. Please open Deans Field, largest green space inside city walls?
Opening would allow more people to exercise more locally yet further from each other because more green space. Both exercising & extra distancing good for health & NHS.
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Q1. Please open Deans Field, largest green space inside city walls?
Opening would allow more people to exercise more locally yet further from each other because more green space. Both exercising & extra distancing good for health & NHS.
11/X
His reply:
We have closed church buildings altogether & it is just as important that grounds do not become an attraction notwithstanding our current inability to maintain them. We cannot manage normal necessary grounds maintenance whilst complying with corona restrictions.
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We have closed church buildings altogether & it is just as important that grounds do not become an attraction notwithstanding our current inability to maintain them. We cannot manage normal necessary grounds maintenance whilst complying with corona restrictions.
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My reply:
Since your charity clearly doesn’t have the resources, please address the issue suitably for today’s circumstances: give the relevant land, or at least management of it, to somebody who has the capacity to give it open access.
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Since your charity clearly doesn’t have the resources, please address the issue suitably for today’s circumstances: give the relevant land, or at least management of it, to somebody who has the capacity to give it open access.
13/X
My reply cont'd:
Have you spoken, since shutdown, to council about @Go_CheshireWest taking over responsibility, absolving your people from insurance liabilities in the process? Surely a simple heads of agreement could be reached in 24 hours which could get the land opened.
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Have you spoken, since shutdown, to council about @Go_CheshireWest taking over responsibility, absolving your people from insurance liabilities in the process? Surely a simple heads of agreement could be reached in 24 hours which could get the land opened.
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Q2. I also asked the Dean why he closed access routes across the city centre by closing gates such as the famous Kaleyards Gate.
He responded reiterating resource constraints & claiming closed gates are actually safer on their land without giving precise counterfactuals.
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He responded reiterating resource constraints & claiming closed gates are actually safer on their land without giving precise counterfactuals.
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Q3. I asked if the Dean had a medical person on his team advising him on his closures in terms of its wider societal health impacts.
He replied that he has. Good news.
Does anyone want to contact Dean ask to chat with this medical person? Sorry, I do not know who it is.
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He replied that he has. Good news.
Does anyone want to contact Dean ask to chat with this medical person? Sorry, I do not know who it is.
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Q4. I also reminded Dean he had promised to try to tell me names of who was on The Chester Deans & Cathedral Chapter. This is apparently secret committee of people who run @ChesterCath edral's charity & land portfolio. I added no need for names of people ill or infirm.
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17/X
Q5. I requested a copy of any constitution / objects / documents underpinning decisions of Dean & Chapter.
I am not even sure if such a document is in the public domain at all - because here is an unregistered charity.
So it can be almost as secret as it chooses to be.
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I am not even sure if such a document is in the public domain at all - because here is an unregistered charity.
So it can be almost as secret as it chooses to be.
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Q6. I also offered to litter pick weekly (my once-a-day exercise) on Deans Field each week, as I had used to do, some years before the public got thrown off this, the biggest green space in Chester City Walls, in favour of this birds of prey display. chestercathedral.com/falconry-natur…
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Dean at this difficult time has other things on his plate besides public access.
In one reply he seeks to close down discussion. In another he commits to passing my questions to the Dean & Chapter's monthly meeting.
Big issue is national - of closed church land.
21/X ends!
In one reply he seeks to close down discussion. In another he commits to passing my questions to the Dean & Chapter's monthly meeting.
Big issue is national - of closed church land.
21/X ends!
Just to clarify: no replies to questions four (names), five (constitution) and six (litter picking).
What do you think will happen? #poll
22/X ends again
What do you think will happen? #poll
22/X ends again
Top Jesus Quotes
I am ye closed right-of-way and ye evasive half-truth and ye tragic lost life.
Yea, no one cometh unto physical and mental health, through exercise on @churchofengland land, least of all through Deans Field, for it be well closed to ye plebs.
John 14:6
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I am ye closed right-of-way and ye evasive half-truth and ye tragic lost life.
Yea, no one cometh unto physical and mental health, through exercise on @churchofengland land, least of all through Deans Field, for it be well closed to ye plebs.
John 14:6
23/X
Quotes of Jesus
But seek ye 1st his kingdom & his righteousness, & all these things shall be given unto you as well.
But seek ye NOT access to @churchofengland land during a global #coronavirus outbreak for purposes of exercising. No, that is too much to ask.
Matt 6:33
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But seek ye 1st his kingdom & his righteousness, & all these things shall be given unto you as well.
But seek ye NOT access to @churchofengland land during a global #coronavirus outbreak for purposes of exercising. No, that is too much to ask.
Matt 6:33
24/X
Jesus Quotes:
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds.
Glorify your Father in heaven for bringing him ever more unhealthy corpses via St Peter’s Gate!
For it would be the only Gate near #Chester the Church of England keeps open.
Matt 5:16
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Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds.
Glorify your Father in heaven for bringing him ever more unhealthy corpses via St Peter’s Gate!
For it would be the only Gate near #Chester the Church of England keeps open.
Matt 5:16
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Jesus in Chester Quotes
Ask 4 public access 2 closed @churchofengland land…
…& it not will be given 2 U.
Seek healthy safe well-spaced exercising on Deans Field…
…& U will find no-access signage, chains, padlocks, security goons if U dare climb in.
Matt 7:7-8.
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Ask 4 public access 2 closed @churchofengland land…
…& it not will be given 2 U.
Seek healthy safe well-spaced exercising on Deans Field…
…& U will find no-access signage, chains, padlocks, security goons if U dare climb in.
Matt 7:7-8.
26/X
Famous Quotes of Jesus, when trying to cross or exercise on @churchofengland land in #Chester:
One who asks for access receives refusal.
One who seeks health and exercise finds only flab.
One who knocks upon Kaleyards Gate finds that it will not be opened.
Matt 7:7-8
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One who asks for access receives refusal.
One who seeks health and exercise finds only flab.
One who knocks upon Kaleyards Gate finds that it will not be opened.
Matt 7:7-8
27/X
#Jesus the #LandAgent tweeted:
Love private property rights with all ur heart & with all ur soul & with all your mind. This is the 1st & greatest tweet.
& 2nd is like it. Don’t love ur neighbor as urself.
All Laws of God’s Property hang on these 2 tweets.
Matt 22:37-40
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Love private property rights with all ur heart & with all ur soul & with all your mind. This is the 1st & greatest tweet.
& 2nd is like it. Don’t love ur neighbor as urself.
All Laws of God’s Property hang on these 2 tweets.
Matt 22:37-40
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#POLL: Would giving people MORE space to walk around in and exercise in actually REDUCE the impact of coronavirus?
Some big landlords think not. Some say it’s healthy to close off land.
What you think now the lockdown is extended? Feel free to comment. Or RT.
Thread / 29 / X
Some big landlords think not. Some say it’s healthy to close off land.
What you think now the lockdown is extended? Feel free to comment. Or RT.
Thread / 29 / X
