Group on front foot after park incidents

Friends announce funding and plans for future

The Friends of Stonehouse Park say they will now “refocus on the positive work” after the park was hit by a string of incidents and complaints.

Volunteers attended a committee meeting at The Back Road on Sunday (April 30) – days after a number of used syringes were apparently found near the play gym.

Locals have also recently taken to social media to complain about youths congregating to drink in the park, with Councillor Margaret Cooper witnessing around 50 youngsters in the area last Saturday night.

One girl aged around 13 was reportedly so intoxicated she could barely stand.

Police Scotland confirmed that a number of calls were made regarding large numbers of youths drinking in the park and that one child was “returned home apparently under the influence of alcohol”.

FOSP volunteers have lined up a number of events, including the forthcoming teddy bears’ picnic, and is celebrating after receiving funding from the Lottery Awards for All scheme for their Little Saplings project.

Secretary Karen Kelly said: “Our committee meeting came at just the right time, allowing us to refocus on the positive work we are doing and not the negative that has been on social media.

“The meeting went well. We had a couple of new people from the village who want to join us, and with good ideas of how to make the park a positive space in the village.

“We are pushing ahead with environmental support from Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI), and are delighted that they have chosen to continue to give us a day of volunteers a month. At the meeting we planned out a schedule of work for them for the next few monthly slots.

“Our Little Saplings group has also been granted a Lottery Awards for All award so we can continue this for many years to come. Our initial funding from CAVLP had came to an end, and the Lottery’s Awards for All has came at just the right time to allow us to fund kit and further training.

“The support we have had for this series of events from Out:let play resource and South Lanarkshire Council’s countryside rangers has been invaluable.

“Working alongside us in the woods for the last six sessions, they have filled committee members with knowledge, confidence and skill. This has transferred onto our regular attendees and you can see the little ones growing in confidence as they play outdoors and wild.

“Our next event is the teddy bears’ picnic, on the Sunday, May 7. As well as music and games, we have the fabulous Allison Galbraith joining us for storytelling. She is full of energy and enthusiasm, and I’m sure all our little attendees will receive a workout as well as a story! Tickets are still available on www.eventbrite.co.uk so bring along your picnic.”

The group are also keen to hear from local teens, who may have ideas on events for their age group.

Karen continued: “We realise that our current park events are aimed at young children, but we would welcome involvement from any of the teenagers receiving a bad press to put on an event for them.

“We are concerned primarily for their safety – the current access along the river can be narrow and slippery. We have no issue with people having fun, it’s just the litter and safety aspects that gives us cause for concern.”

FOSP will hold their AGM on May 21. More information on the group can be found on the Friends of Stonehouse Park Facebook page.