Yobs terrorise Fegg Hayes play park (video)
FED-UP families are calling for action to prevent a gang of teenage yobs from regularly smashing up a children's play park.
Neighbours near the play area in Fegg Hayes say they are sick of their estate being terrorised by the juveniles at night.
They claim gangs smash up glass bottles overnight, making the play park a no-go area for young children during the day.
Residents are now considering locking the play park, near William Terrace, overnight to keep the vandals out.
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Marie Mitchell, pictured below, aged 73, of Bowman Grove, Fegg Hayes, said: "It is there for the benefit of children to use and it is difficult when parents find glass left all over the swings."
In one incident it is claimed a smashed vodka bottle was left facing upwards on the baby swing.
Rita Summerfield, aged 73, of Rivington Crescent, who has four young grandchildren, said: "The glass on the park is absolutely disgusting.
"We always have trouble with youths around here and one even threw a brick at me last time I challenged them. I think locking the gates would make a difference.
"It is a shame because there is not much for kids on this side of the estate and with the weather getting better we want them to be able to play outside."
The park, which is owned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, was given a makeover by Staffordshire Housing Association in 2009 as part of the Renew regeneration project.
It boasts two baby swings, a slide, a board for youngsters to walk along and a large mesh swing.
The housing association installed 1.8 metre railings and gates around the park to allow the residents' association in Fegg Hayes to lock the play area at night.
A spokesman said: "We installed additional signage to encourage proper use of the play area. We also installed an extra waste bin to again encourage people to not drop litter."
PCSO Jon Steventon, who helps to police the Fegg Hayes area, said: "We are aware that some young people are starting to gather on the children's play area off William Terrace and leave litter.
"A number of young people in the area have already been spoken to and their details obtained. This has been followed up by a visit to their parents.
"Other young people causing problems have been issued with Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. We are continuing to carry out high-visibility patrols in the area and when incidents are reported we have responded quickly and taken the names of all those present.
"Work is also ongoing with our partners to provide street games in the area so we can positively engage with young people and draw them away from committing anti-social behaviour. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for Staffordshire Police."
3 Comments
by Anon_mow_cop
Friday, March 22 2013, 9:39PM
“Fegg hayes like most places in Stoke-on-Trent, used to be a respectable area, but like other parts of the city it's gone down the toilet.”
by WebMonkey1
Friday, March 22 2013, 4:47PM
“Some of these kids have younger brothers and sisters, kids of their own who play on these parks, nephews and nieces . They just don't care. Like you, we've got a fabulous park for kids on the Bankeyfields estate, and every weekend, some idiot decides to make a glass bottle go pop for the shear hell of it.
This problem needs a new approach, because past methods to stop this sure aren't working.”
by BucknallMel
Friday, March 22 2013, 12:00PM
“Join the club; the playground on Abbey Road playing fields is an absolute mess, covered in broken glass and the litter from the druggies and drinkers who regularly use it as a gang hut, lighting fires and chasing kids off it from as early as 2 in the afternoon. The council's response is to send the odd clean-up team to remove the mess, which reappears the same night; and the police occasionally send in the big yellow Caught on CCTV van, which as always just shifts the problem over to Hanley Town football club until it moves on to another area while they congratulate themselves on the drop in anti-social behaviour. Then it's business as usual. Maybe if they tried to catch and punish the offenders we would see a difference.”