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Yobs ‘take over play area’
12:15pm Thursday 14th February 2008
A NEW play area has been overrun by yobs just weeks after opening, a worried father has claimed.
The man, who does not wish to be named, said one of the youngsters loitering in the play area at Leverhulme Park, Breightmet, had made a cutting gesture and threatened to stab him.
The incident happened after he dropped off his six-year-old son at a karate lesson at Leverhulme Community Centre at about 6pm last Friday.
He reported it to police and is now calling for the play area, which opened last month and is aimed at children aged four to 12, to be locked at night.
The man said: "There must have been about 20 of them on the equipment in two different groups and I would say they were aged between 13 and 15.
"There was underage drinking going on and some of them had filled up coke bottles with lager. One of the lads just came up to me and made a cutting gesture. He said something under his breath which sounded like I'll stab you'."
The father said the park should be locked in case the problem worsens when the nights are lighter in summer.
The play area was created last year as part of a plan to extend the community centre at the park.
The extension included a new children's centre, which offers nursery facilities, health and ante-natal services, family support and employment training.
Breightmet ward member, Cllr John Byrne, said: "This is shocking. I will speak to the police about it and see if they can do extra patrols.
"At the moment, there is a 1.2-metre fence around the area, but if this continues we may have to look at something more secure."
A police spokesman said: "Just after 6pm on Friday, we received a report of youths drinking alcohol and being abusive in Leverhulme Park.
"Officers attended the scene at 7pm but the youths were not drinking or being too rowdy."
Your Say Yourtheboltonnews
BoltonDave, Tonge Moor says...
12:18pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Iam highly shocked at this outrageous news.
I never would have thought anything like this could happen in Breightmet!
BoltonDave, Tonge Moor says...
12:19pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Iam highly shocked at this outrageous news.
I never would have thought anything like this could happen in Breightmet!
chas, suffolk says...
12:57pm Thu 14 Feb 08
bobbie, Bolton says...
1:02pm Thu 14 Feb 08
people said from word go this would happen! But the council dont want to hear it
Mr Cooper, Derbyshire says...
1:08pm Thu 14 Feb 08
They don't drink themselves sterile, that's the biggest crime.
elliot, harwood says...
1:30pm Thu 14 Feb 08
says it all...
Tim, bolton says...
1:45pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Missymoo, Bolton says...
2:20pm Thu 14 Feb 08
As for the police, turning up in a hour is a miracle normally you would have to wait about 6 it must have been a quiet evening for them! lol
Tim, bolton says...
2:43pm Thu 14 Feb 08
erichyland, says...
2:45pm Thu 14 Feb 08
erichyland, says...
2:50pm Thu 14 Feb 08
someone, here says...
3:50pm Thu 14 Feb 08
numyead, bolton says...
4:00pm Thu 14 Feb 08
numyead, bolton says...
4:02pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Tina, Bolton says...
4:10pm Thu 14 Feb 08
numyead wrote:Ha ha, not at all practical unfortunately, it could be quite funny to witness though!
every park attracts idiots like this, they never learn the decent kids cant get on fro the idiots, connect the climbing frame to the mains electricity grid after 7pm
disappointed, farnworth says...
4:15pm Thu 14 Feb 08
mrfusion, Notlob says...
5:27pm today Thu 14 Feb 08
Am i missing something?
numyead, bolton says...
5:35pm Thu 14 Feb 08
if they behave this way then they have opted out of societys rules, people dont give them respect because they dont earn it, they are simply feral gangs left to run wild by idiotic parents who are swigging beer with one hand and using the plasma remote with the other
erichyland, says...
7:16pm Thu 14 Feb 08
We must keep on opening play areas (what's the alternative) and put an end to this silly idea that children gathered round under a street light are going to take over the world.
numyead, bolton says...
7:34pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Id love to hear Gary Newloves familys response to your post.
SUE, bolton says...
8:05pm Thu 14 Feb 08
numyead, bolton says...
8:36pm Thu 14 Feb 08
apart from Computers playstations, I pods , Bolton lads and girls club, Withins leisure centre, leverhulme leisure centre,
just cos theres nothing to do its ok to get tanked up and torment residents.
get the violin out
erichyland, says...
8:57pm Thu 14 Feb 08
numyead wrote:OK all children between 4 & 17yrs old or should that be 18 or 19. Oh I don't know let someone else decide, should not be allowed to ere, ere, do anything after 6 o clock, or should that be 7 or maybe half past. Oh just shoot them all, they are not worth bothering with. ( Only those on council estates of course)
erichyland Id love to hear Gary Newloves familys response to your post.
Upsy Daisy, says...
9:19pm Thu 14 Feb 08
It's unfortunate that this centre is mobbed by these kids, and might I add that this is during the daytime too, not just at night.
There are no lights in the car park and kids are whizzing about on bikes daring you to run them over.. tempting...
It's not great and to be fair as soon as my daughters school sort out their after school facilities she will be transferring over from Leverhulme.
The staff are lovely it's just a shame that the centre don't manage the play area, which seems to have been omitted from the report? The play area is managed by the council - the centre is managed by SERCO who have no authority to remove or enforce the removal of the young people.
numyead, bolton says...
9:42pm Thu 14 Feb 08
you find about 130 of then down the road booking drivers
If they are casusing alar harresment or distress, or swearing- which is a public order offence, or have drink whilst being under 18 then they are commiting a crime, which of course makes them criminals. and as such should be dealt with.
its only because they get away with it they continue to be the way they are.
jonnyc, Farnworth says...
9:44pm Thu 14 Feb 08
SUE, bolton says...
9:51pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Upsy Daisy, says...
9:58pm Thu 14 Feb 08
jonnyc wrote:I agree with you!
I use the Centre regularly and want to meet some of you happy smiley ' it's not the kids fault' people to see you deal with these out of control kids. They use extremely colourful language which the parents of young children complain about in the Centre. They do threaten and intimidate visitors and I have 1st hand experience of their intimidation. I have seen them intimidate the staff who are trying to provide a service to the whole community not act as security guards because of a childish selfish few. Perhaps banananam Eric and his merry band of do gooders will be there tomorrow protecting the public with their superpowers because Friday night is Beer night for these kids. No school in the morning!
numyead, bolton says...
10:11pm Thu 14 Feb 08
The council/leisure centres/ youth workers are not a substitute for dontgive a **** parents and senior Police officers lack of commitment to samping down on this kind of conduct
numyead, bolton says...
10:14pm Thu 14 Feb 08
D A M N sorry
Missymoo, Bolton says...
10:16pm Thu 14 Feb 08
numyead wrote:Id pay to see that.... fantastic comment!
every park attracts idiots like this, they never learn the decent kids cant get on fro the idiots, connect the climbing frame to the mains electricity grid after 7pm
wifey, breightmet says...
11:57pm Thu 14 Feb 08
wifey, breightmet says...
12:00am Fri 15 Feb 08
Missymoo wrote:haha rofl. council can save money from doing the fireworks lol we can all be entertained by this lol as horrible as it sounds i was very amused. brilliant comment. can we chuck the drug dealers and theifs on? but turn the voltage up lol
numyead wrote: every park attracts idiots like this, they never learn the decent kids cant get on fro the idiots, connect the climbing frame to the mains electricity grid after 7pmId pay to see that.... fantastic comment!
wifey, breightmet says...
12:02am Fri 15 Feb 08
Missymoo wrote:haha rofl. council can save money from doing the fireworks lol we can all be entertained by this lol as horrible as it sounds i was very amused. brilliant comment. can we chuck the drug dealers and theifs on? but turn the voltage up lol
numyead wrote: every park attracts idiots like this, they never learn the decent kids cant get on fro the idiots, connect the climbing frame to the mains electricity grid after 7pmId pay to see that.... fantastic comment!
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CONCERNED: Cllr John Byrne wants more police patrols after complaints about the play area at Leverhulme Park
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pip, bolton says...
12:17pm Thu 14 Feb 08