Anti-social (From Barry And District News)

Anti-social

Anti-social

IN answer to the letter displayed in your viewpoints by Rhiannon Evans, David Street, Barry, could I clarify and correct some of the comments made.

l The babbling brook at the foot of her garden has been cleaned on many occasions on the instructions of our ward councillor Neil Moore who attends our committee meetings. The council is fighting a loosing battle. The play area on the Churchfields open space was removed because it became unsafe due to vandalism.

l The swings on Cassey Common (not in our area) were removed because of vandalism, and also because of extreme cases of dog fouling in the area.

l The swing area on Stratford Green, was removed after careful consideration by the Vale Council due to years of anti-social behaviour, which could not be contained by the police, the Vale council, or the Shakespeare Residents Association.

The anti-social behaviour often occurs during unsociable hours - the losers of the swings removal are the younger children who quite happily played during daylight hours.

The Shakespeare Residents Association has approached the Vale council for a play area for younger children.

l The Association together with the Vale Council provided the football pitch across the brook. Two years ago a lot of work went into clearing the space by the Parks Department only for it to be vandalised. In June of this year I was approached by youngsters asking for a football pitch to be replaced before last summer's school holidays. This was achieved, only for the pitch to be vandalised within four weeks.

lWith regard to the letter handed to the association by some children. This was given to the Vale Council and reply sent to Mrs Evans. The letter and reply are on file in the Housing Department. The comments with regards to the committee being mainly old age pensioners is correct, these having been correctly elected by the people who attended the AGM on November 2, 2004.

Les Lixton (Mr)

Stratford Green

Coldbrook

Barry