‘Flattening our games area has brought misery’
A POPULAR basketball court that was torn up by Newcastle City Council has now become a boggy wasteland plagued by fires and antisocial behaviour, furious neighbours claim.
There was outrage among local families in the summer when a digger moved in to demolish the multi-use games area (MUGA) in Britannia Place in Elswick.
Council chiefs said at the time that the West End site would be landscaped over to offer “accessible open space”, as part of a £2m project to refit or redesign play areas across the city.
But, four months on from the basketball court’s disappearance, residents say their fears about its loss have been realised – with the land now “unusable” and blighted by bonfires and offroad bikes.
However, the council has insisted that antisocial behaviour at the site has not risen and said it was working to solve the issues with the seeding and drainage of the site.
Local mum Vivienne Horseman, of nearby Normanton Terrace, said: “It is awful, really. It is just a mess and horrible.
“Kids can’t play there now, it has been a big mess from start to finish and they should have just left it how it was.
“On Bonfire Night there were sofas and all sorts there being burned and there was antisocial behaviour that night. It felt like there was going to be a big fight. There were about 50 young guys all drinking and letting off fireworks.
“There have been other fires along that stretch too, bins being set on fire and other rubbish. People have always gathered down there, but at least before there was something for them to do.
“Now they just sit on the wall and drink, smoke and cause mayhem. I just don’t understand why the council took it away.”
Another local resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The MUGA did a great job as a physical barrier to keep problems out and create a safe, and fairly indestructible, area to play in. The current boggy bowl is suitable for sheltering bonfires, and attractive for offroad dirt-biking, often with stolen bikes, or miniature motorbikes ridden by very young children.”
A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: “The MUGA at Britannia Place had been subject to much damage because of antisocial behaviour, including fires and vandalism, and it was anticipated that even if repaired, at a cost of around £30,000, it would require potentially expensive ongoing maintenance, as these issues would not just go away.
“An independent report also found that changing the Britannia Place multi-use games area to a grassed area would not result in a shortfall when considering all of the play spaces in the local area, as there are eight other play spaces in the Elswick ward.
“We are aware of resident concerns about antisocial behaviour, and while it is in no way acceptable... the levels of issues reported are in line with both what has been seen there previously and the unfortunately expected uptick in incidents as the nights draw in.
“However, the council, Your Homes Newcastle and Northumbria Police, having visited Britannia Place, are looking at steps that can be taken to tackle the issues seen.”