Residents win play area fight

From the archive, first published Thursday 27th Jul 2000.

Penfields Estate residents told the council to rethink plans to close a park plagued by drug problems - after locals chased off workmen sent to remove play equipment!

Dudley Council had proposed to close the Churchward Close play area based on officers' `safety recommendations'.

The Stourbridge park was left off the list of 42 play areas to be closed because they did not have adequate safety protection and instead bracketed as `marginal'.

This meant the play area would close subject to consultation with residents and after letters were sent out the council received 40 replies, the majority in favour of closure.

But residents stopped workmen contracted to take away play equipment from entering the park and it seems `people power' could have prevented the area becoming a concrete wasteland.

Ken Dunbar, Dudley council head of leisure, said: "I do not know the precise details of the incident but it led to residents organising a petition containing nearly 70 signatures and so we called a public meeting."

Residents at last week's meeting at Amblecote's Holy Trinity Church Hall spoke overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the area, though many raised fears about it - and the neighbouring Bredon Road park - becoming drug dens.

Mr Dunbar said: "There was a very clear outcome from the meeting that we should retain the play area and, if possible, improve it should funds become available.

"However, there was a clear need to tackle more complex youth problems in the area to ensure young children are not deterred from making full use of the play facility."

He added the play area would be retained but the situation monitored at a future meeting of Stourbridge Area Committee.

Archive Home