In an emergency council meeting at half past eight this morning, the Harefield and District Rural Council surprisingly reversed their controversial decision to charge little children to play on the swings on the common. 

The move follows widespread discontent amongst villagers over the weekend and a total boycott of the swings on the common even though the new pay as you play scheme hasn’t started yet. 

Leader of the Harefield Angry Brigade Ms. Mandy Rice-Pudding claimed the overturning of the unpopular rule “A victory for common sense!” whilst village left wing activist and folk hero Arnie Fraser posted on the popular Facebook page Harefield Up Your Arse “This just shows the people power of an angry mob armed with flaming torches and pitchforks marching on the Town Hall!”  Other well-known villagers were quick to voice their opinion on social media also. On Twitter @goodwitchmango tweeted ‘perhaps they can take away the ducking stool now too’ and on the controversial website harefieldmumsnet.com user cherylsweettits96 wrote ‘hoorah! lol 👍😍😍😍😂😂❤️👙💋🍾👋🎀’. 

The Lord Mayor Of Harefield, Baron Londis, is reported to be unhappy at the U turn in council policy and is vowing to make up for lost potential revenue in other ways. Local busybody Maureen Horley told our reporter “I heard the council are going to start changing rent to the ducks on the pond or something like that “. 

We contacted the owner of Smiths Steam Fair, Old Tom Smith, who voiced his displeasure at the move. “If they wants a price war I’ll give ’em one!” he raged “From now on all the rides on the fair will be free as well. Let’s see how Harefield Council like that!”  

The about turn means that there will be no Oyster type card scheme to be administered by the Village Library. Our reporter asked Len the Librarian if he thought that would make his already heavy work load a bit easier and what he thought about recent news that local authorities were talking of replacing qualified librarians with volunteers and how this would affect the government’s literacy programme in schools and if he felt that libraries were part of the cause of the nation’s obesity crisis with children preferring to read books and surf the net rather than get out in the fresh air and play sports but he whispered” Shhhhh!!! I’ve told you before now shut up or get out!”  

  
Mr. Smith says free rides on the fair in July. 

  
Len the Librarian.