NO RESPECT

Published on 12th April 2007 in News

Scattered glass, litter and mindless vandals have prompted one father to call for tougher action on those who risk other people's safety.

A resident, who asked not to be named, slammed those responsible for leaving broken glass and other litter in the park at the end of Malvern Road in Goole and said they could easily put a toddler in hospital.

The man described the park as "a carpet of glass" with "alcohol bottles and cans everywhere."

Local anti-social teams have said that community wardens would offer a solution but also stressed that young people should take responsibility and ownership for the park that they are using.

"It's a case of showing respect," said Nigel Brignall, manager of the East Riding's Anti-Social-Behaviour Team.

And the resident is calling for tougher action on young vandals - "We are sick of youths running riot unpunished."

A Goole resident is calling for the young people leaving broken glass, bottles, cans and generally making a local play area unsafe to be named and shamed.

The man, who has asked not to be identified, told the Goole Times that the park at the end of Malvern Road is often vandalised.

"Youths regularly attend at weekends and basically trash it," he said.

Despite signs stating that dogs and alcohol are forbidden, the resident said that his three-year-old son would have been attacked by a dog were it not for a fence and complained: "Alcohol bottles and cans are everywhere.

He went on: "The park has a sign stating it is only open from 8am to 8pm, but a solar-powered lamppost has been put in front of one gate, which is now unable to shut.

"This gate also has bars missing so would be of no use anyway."

There is also glass scattered over the grass.

A sign gives a phone number to call in case of problems but the complainant said it does nothing to help the situation.

"I stupidly left a message there, expecting the park to be cleaned on our next visit. I was extremely disappointed.

"The floor was a carpet of glass and any toddler falling over there would certainly be attending hospital."

The resident is calling on the town council to do more to keep the park clean and is urging the police to tackle anti-social behaviour more effectively.

"A different approach is needed," he said.

"I propose when offenders are caught they automatically get six months' community service clearing up the mess they make.

"Also name and shame them in the Goole Times. We are sick of youths running riot unpunished."

A visit by a Goole Times reporter on Tuesday found widespread rubbish at the play area. Young children said that they had seen older children going into the park in the evenings and drinking, smoking and smashing bottles.

Goole Town Council (GTC) were not available for comment but it is understood that the area is cleaned and checked by GTC on a weekly basis.

Ward councillor for the area Jean Kitchen said she had found the park clean when she visited it three or four weeks ago, but was aware that youths sometimes threw things into the play area from the railway bridge.

However, she said that she would ask the town clerk, Brian Robertson, to put the problem on the agenda for discussion at the next Goole Town Council meeting.

Several of the parks in Goole have park wardens, who check and report any problems with the parks on a daily basis and this could be one solution to the problem.

GTC have already committed money to part-funding community wardens, which could be in place by the autumn.

Nigel Brignall, manger of the East Riding's Anti-Social Behaviour Team, said wardens would deal with the kind of problems reported by the resident.

However, he also stressed the need for the users of the park to take ownership and responsibility for the park.

"It's a case of showing respect," he said.

He said identifying the offenders was often difficult, particularly if they caused problems after dark, but he would be in favour of making them clear up the mess they had made.

"I would like to think we can deal with the problem before we get to ASBOs," he said.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "Police in Goole are not aware of Malvern Road park as being a troubled area.

"However, we would urge local people to inform police if there are issues that need addressing so that we can tackle the problem.

"The Neighbourhood Team is happy to speak with members of the public and encourage them to make contact if they have concerns about the area."

Goole Police can be contacted via 0845 6060 222.