State of the park
Yesterday my ten year old son and his friends appeared in our garden after been ordered off the sports court not by the fifteen or so teenagers hanging around the park as you would have thought but by a group of drunk adult males who had pulled up in cars behind the disused Harry Hancock's warehouse and accessed the park area.They had drink with them but when I walked up the park with the children I didn't actually see them consuming it as I would have rung the Police without hesitation.The individuals were very intimidating and I didn't feel confident to challenge their behaviour.
The park was in a disgusting state state following Friday and Saturday nights antics on there with even the sports court littered with cans and bottles. Most bins were empty so their really isn't any excuse. It was a real shame to see the area like this as the park was very busy with both residents from the estate and visitors enjoying our burst of summer.
I shall be reporting this to the Council and the Police and be asking that over the summer that the park be included in their patrol strategy as a hot spot for ASB.
In order for the park to get the attention it warrents there needs to be lots of reports from us as residents to show what is going on.
If what I witnessed yesterday continues we will see an increase of chidren playing football in the streets of which does motivate complaints to the Police but as parents we can't expose our children to broken glass and intimidating drunken youths and men.
So please if you have a less than satisfactory experience or your cildren com home and tell you things that are going on send a post to this site and the Neighbourhood Watch will do the rest. It needs to be a clean and safe place to visit and play.
So come on residents of Bankeyfields it's our Childrens Park and it's not just up to the Police or Council to sort it out we need to do our bit too.
Comments
Setting an Example
I would also like to encourage anybody who witnesses any residents of the estate who are seen speeding down R.M.W to report them to this web site as well. I think it is about time we started to name and shame individuals who are in breach of anti-social behavior whether it be speeding, dropping litter or failing to clean up after there pets. Today whilst driving down R.M.W at around 14.30 I was past by a grey/silver Mini Cooper doing at least 65 mph he proceeded on to the estate and park up in a driveway halfway up Spitfire Way. Surely if we are to get anywhere with the council regarding the issues we have with speeding , dog fouling and so on, it is up to the residents of this estate to set an example for others to follow.
Setting an example
In response to the above subject, I have to say there are numerous vans/cars that speed up and down Spitfire Way every day in particular vans! Obviously some people in Dakota Grove get a lift in the morning and the driver always seems to be in a hurry! As for the people that drive cars I don't think they realise that the speed humps are there to slow you down? The same ones actually speed up when they go over them (think they are reinacting The Dukes of Hazzard)? I think it's a good idea to start and take a note of their reg numbers and name/shame them on this site perhaps this way they may slow down a little.
We have a very large white van opposite our house and when people are trying to drive out of Dakota Grove they cannot see what's coming unless they hitch out into the road and it doesn't help when others are speeding up and down (god help us it a child should be in the way)!! WHY IS EVERYONE IN A RUSH ALL THE TIME, if you need to be somewhere at a certain time make sure you give yourself plenty of time!
white van man
At the next NHW meeting, could this be discussed, as it is an offence to obscure the views at a junction, last time this happened one of our former PCSOs had words with a van driver who stopped immediately this very thing.
i think poeple are nosey
i think poeple are nosey enough without encouraging them and as for the park what a mistake that was
positive reply NOT
KML There is a difference between being nosey and being strong enough to stand up and be counted to make a contribution for the good of the estate. As for the park what do you suggest ? Demolish every park in the city ?. Then the louts would just be a nusiance on a street corner.
BjDj if the mini is the one with the union flag on the roof (but there a few on the estate)I have seen it speeding up Spitfire several times.
Nosey?
KML24 are you referring to the comment by BJ about shopping people, or the original post when you mention nosey? I just want to clarify the point before anyone jumps down your throat.
If it was in relation to the original post, I think your wrong, I'm glad someone has highlighted the problem. If it's about shopping people on the site, I've checked and it's not illegal to do so, I don't know if it will do any good. BJ will no doubt keep us informed.
As to the park being a mistake, I think your wrong, I think there is a bigger social issue. One being that there is nothing for older kids to do except to hang out about the park. The second being cheap booze (why can't cans be cheaper they're easier to clean up). Tunstall, needs more for teenagers. What's happened to the youth clubs and youth workers?
Nosey
Remind me not to call the police if you ever have trouble at your door, not that I know where you live mind you.
Men in the football court
The men in the football court are there every Sunday afternoon. I think they have it block booked.
They asked me the other week why I was getting rid of the glass from the park, baring in mind their wives/girlfreinds had their young children in the park, I'm amazed they had to ask considering I had my son with me, I'd think it was pretty obvious.
They did offer me "massive respect" for doing it, not something they'd they do. That's probably because if they'd stopped drinking and playing football and gave a damn about their children, and other children's well being they'd do something about it.
In fact if they threw their weight behind getting the park cleaned up for their kids to play in safely instead of running kids out of the play area then it would be a better place.
I've also had a letter from the council this week (seems like a different department from road traffic as they seem to be willing to look at options (little dig there traffic department)).
Anyway the letter says that Linda Tweats the Northern AIT manager will be contacting me shortly in relation to the glass in the park not being cleaned up properly. But as the whole problem is related I'll pass everyone's concerns on to Linda.
As to more children playing footy in streets, it's started already with some kids playing stopping when seeing the park was busy, and not fancying it, they played footy at the top of John Rhodes Way.
nosy neighbour
Kml24 not wishing to get in to a silly debate regarding the right and wrong way to deal with anti-social behavior but could you please explain why you think encouraging people to report acts of anti-social behavior as being nosey. I take it from your comment you do not have kids that play in the park, you do not use a car to enter or leave the estate and you are happy for the estate and the park to be covered in glass, litter and dog mess. I honestly thought that we were all striving toward a common goal regarding the open-space, speeding on R.M.W and the general health and safety of the kids on the estate. Would you regard me as a nosy neighbour if I was to report someone breaking in a house or slashing tyres on a car?? What is the answer? not be bothered and let the minority spoil it for the majority.
Coventry
I think at the end of the day it's called looking out for one another and becoming a community. Because if we don't stand together then the rot will start to set in as you'll begin to find when you or your kids begin to visit the park.
It's not being nosy, it's not about being holier than thou. It's like Bryn says a "common goal", by having everyone's best interests at heart.
I don't want my kids playing in glass, if I did I'd send them to the tip. A park is an area for young children to play in and to feel safe.
It's been suggested that the park could be made into a alcohol free zone, by a member of the Neighbourhood Watch. But to get anything like this passed, we need to work together.
How? Start by telling your neighbours about this site, and get them to air their voice on here.
KML has a point when she doesn't want everyone to be a nosey neighbour, and griping about every wrong deed, just a friendly neighbour. So lets wait for her reply before we all jump down her throat. I think it's hard to join in conversations on sites like this because you might feel like an outsider, especially when everyone gangs up and disagrees with a point of view.
I never mentioned anything
I never mentioned anything anti social behaviour, what it was trying to say was that it is not right to name and shame people on this website. Everybody keeps on about community spirit how can we have community spirit if people are getting named and shamed. and as for The park people cant say they are happy with it everybody is always moaning about it and with good reason,it is more trouble than it is worth and you pointed the problems out in your comment.
I agree with your sentinments
Hi KML24
I agree with in part with what your saying that the park does have some problems.
But I personally would hate to see it go, for a number of reasons. I agree though that it can't continue to be abused the way it has been.
If we have the park scrapped we are basically assigning our kids to their bedrooms and back gardens. To streets where chances of being injured are elevated.
In the news - Kids threatend with £1500 fine for playing kerby
We are taking away a valuable part of a childhood away from the kids. A park should be a place to play safely. To make new friends. Where parents can have a quick catch up. Our park should be the hub of our community for all of the right reasons, not the wrong ones.
If we set our minds to reclaim this park as our own, to win the police and the council over to our cause you'll see a big difference. Do nothing and then your right, the park should close and we'll let the land turn into waste. How about creating a wooded nature reserve?
Get writing everyone, as the council and the police need to build up the bigger picture of what problems there are otherwise how can they do something about it.
This site has a list of your Tunstall Councillors and phone numbers of who to contact in the footer. Tell these people your worries. Bother them (not stalk) it's their jobs. Tell them your part of a bigger group, the fact that we can start building up numbers will spring them to action.
Come on Bankeyfields, your park needs you.
fly tippers
Been for a walk on the open space and noticed the skip on Hancock’s Pottery site has attracted fly tippers. I have phoned potteries waste and they are looking into getting the skip removed. It is a shame that they cannot leave an empty skip on the open space judging on the amount of rubbish and broken glass that is lying around.
worse area for fly tipping!!
at the end of hurricane grove, where the passage is leading to summerbank road, it is a dumping ground for furniture and household refuge, rotting food, flies, no doubt rats it getting worse, needs clearing, how do we get this done,we pay our council tax so this is where it needs to be used, would not be tolerated in other counties, only in stoke on trent say no more...
any numbers please someone got to do something about it
Next NHW meeting
Hi Ade can pass this onto your neighbours, from hurricain grove (if thats where you live).
Please attend the next NHW meeting, and bring all evidence such as pictures incident numbers etc. There will be a representative from the council there so it will be an ideal time to get this knocked on the head.
See you there.
Healthy Debate
I am glad that comments posted have generated a healthy debate regarding the problems on the estate, what we now need is lots of different ideas on how we can improve things. Yes perhaps naming and shaming people is taking things to the extreme but I for one enjoy living on this estate and I shall do my upmost to protect all the hard work that has gone in on improving the area whether it be challenging people to clean up after there pets or picking up the remnants of broken bottles. This is our estate so let’s have pride in it and protect what is right.
Reminder
May 11th Bankeyfields Neighbourhood Watch Meeting. 7:30pm @ the Rifle Man Pub. Obvious talking point.
my observation
just to add to the debate.
I have seen parents dropping litter in the park. I have heard parents swearing. i have seen parents lettting children take their bikes into the playground. I have seen parents letting their dogs mess the footpaths, need I go on, with the tightening up of selling alcohol, where do they get the drink from?
And why is they have to buy
And why is they have to buy bottles, if bottled beer wasn't cheaper than cans it would be far easier to tidy and safer all round.
Thanks
Thanks for the reminder I shall be attending will need to juggle things around with work commitments.
Agenda
If it makes it easier, we can get an agenda posted, then we can work with residents who want to come, but can only make the first hour, we can juggle the agenda as best as possible.
State of the park
In reply to the earlier comment re the above, I also walked through the park Sunday afternoon and was a disgusting mess it was too!!
Litter strewn all over the place, bottles/cans/crisp packets/carrier bags/tissues you name it, it was there.
On Sunday there were many people using the park some behaving some not, all more or less drinking but clearly not using the little bins that were at the time all empty! The language appears to be the norm at the park any swear word will do regardless of who is around.
My kids were also thrown out of the sports complex by the adult males, this is when they come back onto the estate to continue playing but then are shouted at by the neighbours (sometimes they just cannot win)!! They were also chased off the park the other day by shall we call them 'travellers' who had sticks and metal bars in their hands!
It seems the only people being affected by unwanted guests on the park are the kids that actually live on either estate. I notice there is glass scattered all over the place now as well so its just as well I don't exercise my dogs across the park anymore following an incident just before Christmas with one of our dogs paws being cut straight through (thank goodness for Pet Plan) but it still cost us money. I had to walk my kids and their friends down the park tonight as they were chased off by yet more teenagers, when I got there the language consisted of nothing but 'F' words from both the males and females.
Some 'mothers' if you can call them that were in the baby section of the park and shouted at some other children who were using the kiddie section because they said they were too big (it's a pity they didn't refrain from using foul language in front of both their kids and everyone else's before they pass judgement on others)!!!
Again the park was still full of litter in and around the sports complex. I actually like living on this estate but have to say the park is just a dumping ground for idiots to go and hang out, destroy/litter and basically do exactly what THEY want to do, the children on both estates have no say and don't want to tackle these youths/yobs or whatever you want to call them in fear for themselves. Dogs walkers are still letting their dogs foul the park and there is no excuse, if you have a dog pick up its mess or buy a rabbit or something YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY for it. We need more police walking around the estate/park and not just driving through it, these yobs need to be stopped before summer sets in good and proper. I just worry about which way they walk home at night? How long will it be before someones car/property gets damaged or something robbed? I ended up picking up cans in the street the other day which were left by god knows who, but if we all do our bit we can at least keep the estates clean and tidy! As for the park - well think that's well out of our hands now??
Reminder
May 11th Bankeyfields Neighbourhood Watch Meeting. 7:30pm @ the Rifle Man Pub. Obvious talking point.
i walked accross the park on
i walked accross the park on sunday and you are correct it was a dump. one the way accross to the other estate i said to my son and his friend go and play on the park and they both said no and they had the look of horror on there faces, the amount of trouble i have had on that park it just is not worth using. and you cannot stop people using a public park it was better when it was just open space.as an example my friends child was threatend with a knife the police were phoned and they said unless the knife was used there is nothing they can do. so that is why they would not go on the park.
clarification
are the police that overstretched? that a child/ teenager wielding a knife in a public place gets a response like that, I find that incredible, would have thought an armed response vehicle at least would have been callled, I hope a member of the police reads your post, and can clarify this situation.
laws on knives
Here are a few laws dealing with knives.
section 1 of the prevention of crime act 1953.
The restriction of offensive weapons act 1959.
The criminal justice act 1988.
The criminal justice and public order act 1994.
The offensive weapons act 1996.
The knives act 1997.
Lastly, the violent crime reduction act 2006.
That is why I am shocked your friend got the response she did.
Incident number
An incident number should have been given at the time. Can you ask your friend to pass it over so we can check this out please.
Park Troubles
I have read the posts above and would like to ask what trouble KML24 has had on the park as they have never come and raised the matter either on this site or to the NHW.
We as a group can not try to resolve issues if we are not made aware of these issues, it is ok to say "amount of trouble i have had on that park it just is not worth using" actually gives us no information.
If you or any person has issues we can as i say try to resolve it, BJDJ had a good response regarding dog fouling and we have made steps towards the speeding and visibilty coming off the roundabout also we had a limited success on a cleanup.
However we need information realtime with specific instances, if you do have a problem please report them to either the police or the council and then let this site know. We are trying to build up a viable NHW and community spirit within both estates, we need information from you all.
Our next NHW meeting is documented and open to all residents, please come along and you will be given time to air your views, feelings etc etc, and we can formulate a strategy to help alleviate these specific issues.
We can not guarantee a solution but we will try with all our collective
resources to help all residents with issues relating to our estates.
Gordy
Points well made
Gordy
You make some good points in your post, in as much that the NHW, police, and other agencies can only work with facts.
A lot has been said just recently about the state of the openspace, anti social behaviour, dog fouling etc, even before the playground was built these issues were raised with the residents, police and the council, and how best to control it.
Lets not forget that the building of the playground was planned before a single brick was laid, and all should have been informed by the builder, estate agent, and solicitor of its plans.
It maybe worth someone contacting the LPU representing Birches head, and the residents association for this area, as a playground that was to be built there was scrapped by a petition by residents living along side the area where the playground was to be built.
Residents now want alleyways closed or gated due to anti social behaviour, the congregation of children and youths around the Diana road shops, and also the schools after closing time, and the playing of games in the streets.
Anti social activity is a way of life, its just where it occurs, and how to control it, and educating the next generation to hopefully lessen it.
It maybe worth asking the council to see if the compound has been block booked, if so where is the money going, if not, they are losing revenue.
Please post all FACTS about what is going on to the website, so that the NHW, police, and the council can build up information on how best to tackle, or should I say, control it.
LOL
When I said block booked in an earlier post I meant they were bigger than the kids and presumed the right to kick them off.
You may laugh
You would be surprised to find that sports courts around the city are a good income, by teams booking areas in schools, parks, etc, to train.
this is my last comment on
this is my last comment on this subject,the park is not worth using because i have phoned the council about the behaviour and all they say is we will look in to it,maybe they have, maybe they have not.
the bottom line is i feel it is not safe for my child with out supervison and it is not getting any better, and although NHW have good intentions i cannot see it getting any better.
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