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We want our park back




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An eight-year-old girl wants youths to stop spoiling the park where she plays.

Beth Ashe was so fed up about the problems at the park in Fernwood that she wrote to the Advertiser to complain.

In her letter, she said that she and her friends enjoyed using the park and, now the weather had improved, she wanted to be able to go there to play.

“But I am too scared to go around there because it has become a place where bigger children are always hanging around,” Beth said.

“Most of them don’t even live on our friendly estate. They make me feel frightened and have even thrown things at me and shouted: ‘Get lost’ to me and my brother.”

She said there was graffiti in the park, litter, cigarette ends and broken glass. The basketball net was often broken and the safety flooring was often torn and set alight.

Beth said the teenage children often hung upside down from the top of the swings and she was concerned that if they fell they could be badly injured, and that could mean the park being closed.

“I feel very sad and upset that our park at times cannot be used by the children who live here,” she said.

“I hope that if these teenagers read this they might feel ashamed of what they are doing and stop it so that me, my brother, and all the other children can use the park, which has been built for us.”

The chairman of Fernwood Parish Council, Mr Jim Gould, felt sorry for Beth and her friends. He said the park was for children aged six to 11 but it seemed to attract youths.

He said residents had been given contact details for himself, the police and Peveril, the firm that looks after the site, and said they should call if they encountered problems.

Mr Gould said the council would investigate further. One option they might have to consider was employing a security firm.

He said once the village hall and shops were completed they would look at getting security cameras.

Balderton beat manager’s, Pc Martin Stannard, urged people with any concerns about the park to call the police. He can be contacted on 07910336903.



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