John asks the ‘young team’ to help stop Privies rowdies

Community leaders in Ferguslie Park have called on the “young team” to help shut down antisocial behaviour at a popular park after reports of youth disorder.

Dedicated volunteers have been working flat out to transform Glencoats Park, known as The Privies, by installing a brand new play area and clearing paths.

However, Ferguslie Community Council said it has received numerous reports of large groups of youths gathering and acting in a threatening way.

The group’s chairperson John McIntyre, right, has called on the whole community to take responsibility for the park - including the young people who live nearby.

He said: “Over the weekend a number of residents have contacted the community council to report some alleged antisocial and threatening behaviour being dished out by a group of around 20 young people hanging about the park at night. Their ages range from 12 to 16 years.

“We are not saying they are all from Ferguslie Park as it has been shown in the past from local crime figures that a number of those arrested or cautioned for previous offences did not have Ferguslie Park addresses.

“They tend to gather f rom other areas with their local connections in the scheme.”

He added:“We would ask, in the first instance, that the young team who do live in Ferguslie Park look after your own community and ask those who are causing these alleged incidents to put a stop to it.

“After all how would you like it to be one of your family members, like your maw or da, your brothers and sisters, auntie or uncle or - even worse - your grannies and grandfathers?

“No, clever guys, the Ferguslie adults don’t like it. Don’t be tarred with that type of brush.

“It’s been a hard blow for the volunteers involved with Pals of the Privies when this happens.

“We need the support of all the community especially the younger generation to protect what has been achieved so far, to allow us to continually move forward with improving the facilities at the park.”

Mr McIntrye said the community council has contacted the police, who will carry out additional patrols in the area.

We would ask the young team who do live in Ferguslie Park to look after your community