Park disorder
Teens drinking and smashing glass
Cambuslang residents have hit out at youths who smash bottles and dump litter in the town’s park during binge drinking sessions.
Fears for the future of Cambuslang Public Park have been raised again as teens return to drink there in the summer evenings.
Cambuslang residents have hit out at youths who smash bottles and dump litter in the town’s park during binge drinking sessions.
Fears for the future of Cambuslang Public Park have been raised again as teens return to drink there in the summer evenings.
The outrage follows similar incidents last summer which culminated in a local lad being hit on the head with a glass bottle.
One young woman, who walks her dog in the park almost every day, said: “The teenagers are still hanging about the park as much as they did last year.
“But that is not the problem. It’s the smashed glass everywhere. They bring their drink down here, but instead of putting bottles in the bin, or beside the bin, they smash the bottles.
“It’s dangerous, someone could get hurt badly.
“If they are drinking and fall over and land on the glass, they could be hurt, just as much as a child or any other visitor to the park.”
Other people who use the park and those who work hard to maintain it have expressed their outrage.
Edward Cais, of the Friends of Cambuslang Park group, said: “This is a continuing issue. The gathering of young people, although lovely to have them in the park, is resulting in this mess being left.
“This kind of thing in the holiday period is particularly bad and it’s evident from the rubbish around that alcohol is consumed.
“The question of broken glass in the park is a continuing problem in the mornings certainly after the weekends. It is something South Lanarkshire Council staff are constantly clearing up.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “At this time of year people do tend to hang about the park and we do see an increase in anti-social behaviour.
“We are carrying out extra patrols in the area, both uniform and plain clothes officers to counter that. We are also working closely with our partners, South Lanarkshire Council’s community wardens and Friends of Cambuslang Park and are in regular dialogue with them.”
A spokesman for South Lanarkshire Council said staff carry out litterpicking every week day at the park and confirmed broken glass was a recurring problem.
Explaining anti-social behaviour would be raised at the next meeting of the local joint problem solving forum, he said: “Meantime, the council’s community warden service is aware of issues involving young people gathering at Cambuslang Park and regularly monitor and patrol the park, liaising with Police Scotland if necessary.”