Park is a no-go area for children

HERE are some photographs taken by my husband on Sunday morning, when we took our children to our local park, at the rear of Northway Road, Littlehampton.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Apr 2008, 19:02 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:57 BST

I am sure that you will agree they are disgusting.

Our young son ran across the field, excited to get to the park, my husband following closely behind.

There seemed to be no danger '“ no traffic, no strangers.

However, the park was full of broken bottles, with glass all over the climbing frame sticking out of the wood.

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Our son, aged only five, shouted "Don't worry, Dad, I will brush it off."

Luckily my husband caught him in time and he wasn't injured. This doesn't mean, however, that the same will be said for the next group of children to enter this hazardous area.

A child could easily be hurt, maybe even kill themselves if he or she landed wrongly on a shard of glass protruding from the climbing frame.

Groups of youths sit in this park at night drinking bottles of Stella, Grolsh, alcopops, all strong drinks for any adult, let alone teenagers.

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Not only are they breaking the law by under-age drinking and intimidating passers-by, they are ruining the park for local children.

They don't just litter the park by dropping bottles; they smash them with the intent to cause harm.

The recipients being our children.

If the local council, police or government are unable to control the youths of today, then I suggest you just close the park, full stop, as it is a heath hazard.

One of these days, someone will be seriously hurt. Fortunately our son wasn't.

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Maybe we can stop the next excited child, or the next, or the next, from being hurt and protect the park so that our children do have somewhere to play.

We all pay council tax, which is supposed to be used towards projects just like this.

If the council were to put high fences around the park and lock it at night, I am sure a lot of money would be saved on cleaning up after the vandals.

The park in Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, has done just that and is immaculate.

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This affects residents of Lyminster, Toddington, Wick and Littlehampton.

I hope that we have your support in this matter and together we may be able to make some very necessary changes.

Please feel free to e-mail me your support, comments or suggestions at [email protected]

Sarah, Lyminster resident

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