Uckfield: Residents' dispair over play area

The residents, who live near to the play area in Hempstead Lane, claimed that vandalism, drug-taking, under-age drinking, assaults, and even arson attacks by teenagers were making their lives a misery. One local described living there as 'like being twinned with the Gaza Strip' while another spoke of a youth being so high on drugs 'his eyes were spinning.' Town council members, who this week heard the residents concerns, discussed possible options aimed at keeping troublemakers out of the play area. And later this week the town council received the go-ahead from the county council to share security guards who patrol Uckfield Community College. The role of the security men at the playground has yet to be finalised with police. Around 15 people attended Monday s facilities committee meeting at Uckfield Civic Centre. None of those who spoke wanted to be named for fear of reprisals. Bottles One local said: 'In the last few weeks since we ve had decent weather it s been horrendous. Bottles have been thrown at windows and implements used for smoking dope have been found. 'All the properties are valueless at the moment. I d really like to sell up and get away from the area. 'It s pretty bad living there. A few weeks ago someone was assaulted. I would like to see it (the playground) closed down.' Another resident said a light installed in the play area had attracted the youths 'like moths.' She said: 'They hoard round it. That is where they smoke their drugs. I saw one youth whose eyes were spinning, he was so high.' One man said his bin had been set alight, while another said he saw youths vandalising the play area s swings in broad daylight. Another resident said: 'It s like Hempstead Lane is twinned with Gaza Strip. Cars are getting smashed up, and those that are doing it look as pleased as punch.' One angry resident said: 'We re asking the council to do something about it. What do you expect us to do take the law into our own hands?' Councillors admitted that moving youngsters from one part of town only created a problem in another part. Cllr Martha Whittle said: 'It s just moving trouble around the town. It can be done but it s not the solution. We re not solving the problem for Uckfield, just one area of the town.' However, Cllr Mike Skinner said: 'We have moved it (the gang) twice and will do it again, because you cannot say this part of Uckfield will have to put up with it .' He added that Uckfield Community College had dealt effectively with a gang of youths on the campus by hiring trained security guards. Members agreed to that suggestion, and also resolved that a sign should be put up saying the play area was for under 12s only and would be open only from 9am to 8pm. Cllr Skinner said the sign would give police more power to move youths on. He said: They can t just move people on for looking at them in a funny way, but with a sign up they can. Fencing Members also decided to look into cost of higher fencing to enable the area to be locked and to consider removing the light from the play area after consultation with the police. Wealden s chief police officer Superintendent John Dransfield welcomed the committee s findings, adding: 'This problem is something we are aware of. We suspect this is the same group which was causing disquiet around the council offices and the back of Tesco s. We would welcome some form of contact with the council.' However, he added: 'All of this is merely moving the problem around. We need to resolve the issues that these youths have, and the police and other agencies need to get together.' Published: 21.6.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd