Children’s park is ‘no-go’ zone

A children’s play park has reportedly become a ‘no-go zone’ after being used as a location for organised fights.

Parents have been forced to avoid Woodlands Park in Wrotham Road, Gravesend, after a recent spate of violence in the area.

A 17-year-old was allegedly beaten and hit with a baton at the site last Wednesday (June 6) while another bare knuckle fight broke out yesterday afternoon.

She said: “I felt sick. It made me feel physically sick.

“They should put more secu- rity in the park, it’s getting worse there. They need to stop it.

“I think they should shut the park earlier.”

Another mum from Gravesend, who wished to remain anonymous, thinks the park is becoming unsafe for residents and their children.

She said: “My daughter who is 12 has just started to want to hang out with her friends from school there at the weekends but I’m now quite reluctant to want her to go.

“Many of us parents are now feeling too scared for our chil- dren’s safety, not just in the park but anywhere in Gravesend and Northfleet, we’re all very anxious that our children will be targeted for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I so want my children to have the freedom I had when I was younger but it’s becoming increasingly difficult. Many of us believe that not enough is being done to protect our innocent children from unprovoked attacks.”

Chief Inspector Andy Gadd said police were aware of the video and were investigating.