Have done some more thinking...

What Hayhurst (I said Hazlehurst earlier) chose to raise, were really issues about  groups finding ways to share space. The space is adequate, for both, to get done what they want.    There will always be niggles, but niggles can be sorted out by friendly give and take, communication.  Like we, and most of them, had been doing for 8 months.

As Hayhurst raised these as Safety, I had to address them formally, and  do a full risk assessment. Took several hours - but produced little of substance. Safety  has been looked at fairly thoroughly already, we already had to do a hazard assessment and safe working practises, and that went to Council.

Resultsof the risk assessment for last Saturday's complaints,  need to be documented in writing. Hayhurst get a copy of the 2 page hazard assessment tomorrow.  

 Their first complaint - bikes in the way of people walking in the car park . It is perhaps irritating to find a bike in your way, and to have to walk round it. But just because something is irritating - doesnt make it a safety concern. Ie no issue. If they get fussed, they can always walk round a bike, or move it themselves out of the way, I'm sure none of us would object.

The second complaint - tools dropped on ground being a tripping hazard -- in theory perhaps.  Hazard assessment rates that,  "acceptable risk". Unlikely to occur, and if it does, consequences small.   The phrase says it all. Yes, it is a risk. But it is an acceptable one.  It is a risk that is acceptable. We require measures in place to address it; we in fact have those. A

Safety is supposed to be a shared concern, so I'm required to give Hayhurst, an opportunity to respond. I still think tomorrow we should close early - but that is to avoid aggrevation and give them an opportunity to respond with the so called "hazards" removed. It is not because there are actually hazards, and the solution is to remove them (as I thought earlier).

Worth noting, the car park is presumably public land. Anyone can bring a bike onto it at any time. We have no authority to prevent them, or require them to leave. Also, if Hayhurst are concerned about bikes in the car park they can use the front door. Re opening hours, - we open with Council permission, our hours include  time after 12, and we are entitled to use that. We might have to be a bit more careful in future, to keep tools tidy - bikes clear of the door - but that is all.

 I take safety of elderly seriously. If old folks fall - eg over sporting equipment or the unsecured edge of a carpet -   worse consequences than for us, bones break and tendons rip more easily, and heal more slowly.

But  I don't appreciate it, when people invoke "Safety"  for things that really aren't safety issues. And make formal complaints, when informal early inquiries, might achieve a lot more.   

 Mike.