Fires
and vandalism are now causing serious disruptions for the Council and
the fire service at Holt Street recreation ground in Rishton. The area
around the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) has become a magnet for
antisocial behaviour which has damaged the shelter, tarmac and left the
woodland strewn with litter.
A
petition has been set up by local residents to use £30,000 of money
from a new development on Parker Street to build a play area at Holt
Street but Councillors remain firm that this will not be happening.
Cllr
Ken Moss, Cabinet member for Parks, said, "We have discussed this in
depth but Holt Street does not belong to HBC and it causes us problems
on an almost daily basis. It already costs the Council several man hours
every week to clear the debris left by fires and we are not willing to
spend public money in an area which has a long history of vandalism."
He
added, "The money will be spent improving the Ladybird Garden on Chapel
Street instead. £30,000 would not build anything spectacular on its own
but as part of improvement works to an existing area it will go a long
way. We'll be happy to talk about this to the group behind the petition
but so far we haven't been asked."
Designs for The Ladybird Garden are currently being drawn up and work is expected to start within the next 12 months.
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