Since this is so vague, I just going to post related rants. That's how it's done, right?
I grew up on a housing estate built along fairly idealistic lines. All the different 'types' of house were built in a jumbled together fashion, to avoid social segregation, and care was taken to ensure exercise and community activity would be available to all. There were two big fields set aside for recreation, including one containing communal exercise equipment and a basketball court, and plenty of climable trees. There was a community hall, spar and chip shop. And there was a lovely little green area in the middle with grassy banks arranged specially so that kids could have somewhere relatively safe to ride up and down on their bikes.

What has happened recently? The communal exercise equipment has been chopped up because things you can climb on like that are not safe enough. The nicest houses on the estate are much cheaper than equivalent houses elsewhere because nobody wants to live near the 'lower' folk (so cheaper houses for those more willing to mix). But one little story I read in the local paper just makes me want to go round there and slap people.

The council have levelled the grassy banks. Why? Because some people/person in one of the nearby 'nice' houses complained the children playing were too noisy. Either that person has lived next to this noise for about 20 years and suddenly complained, or they chose to move into a house next to an area specially designed for children to play dangerous noisy games, then complained about the noise of children playing. WTF was anyone involved in this thinking? The children will now either stay inside watching telly and playing computer games, or play on their bikes on the only other banks available: those by the main road. I really want to punch whoever made a fuss about this to the council, and shake the council for listening too.

But then, my home town has people who write to the paper complaining about 'vandals' when describing young people who sit on the backs of benches. Fear it! Fear it!
(Skittlemcfluff ......................, Fri 18 Apr 2008, 15:24, Reply)