Kentish Express Ashford & District
Angry mum hits out over unfinished basketball court
An angry Ashford mum claims a half-finished basketball court could be ripped down after the council went over the budget allocated to build it.
A pair of professional nets now stand abandoned on grass in the park opposite John Wesley School, with no tarmac or court to play on.
The Washford Farm resident, who asked not to be named, has slammed Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for not finishing the job and branded the project a ‘waste of money.’
She said: “The grass is all worn away, it’s a muddy mess and basketballs aren’t going to bounce on that.
“How are kids supposed to use those? It is ridiculous, what a waste of money.”
The angry mum said she contacted the council to complain about the inadequate park and claims she was told workers didn’t finish the job because ABC exceeded their budget.
She said: “The person at the council then told me they’re just going to take them away again because they went over budget and can’t afford to finish them.
“So they’ve paid for the nets, paid to put them in and now rather than just putting a bit of tarmac down, they’re going to pay to have them taken away again. “It’s utter nonsense. We’ve got kids who want to go out and exercise and this is all they get.”
The mum said the park, in Wesley Road, is in an arguably poor state.
She added: “They haven’t even done anything about the death trap in that park – this massive ditch filled with breeze blocks and water.
“A mum would only have to take her eyes off her toddler for a second and they could wander off, could fall in it and drown. It’s so dangerous.
“The council clearly don’t give a damn about this park.”
A council spokesman said: “We have contacted the lady direct about her query, which is
‘The council clearly don’t give a damn about this park’
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