That's just not cricket

BROKEN BOTTLES AND VANDALISM THREATEN KIDS' LEISURE TIME
Clearing away broken bottles and empty beer cans is not the type of activity you'd prefer kids to be doing at their local park. But it's a regular reality for many organisations in Birkenhead. Birkenhead War Memorial Park is a victim of all types of disrespect tagging, vandalism, burnouts and drunken activity during school holidays - and Elliott Molesworth has had enough. As chairman and coach of Birkenhead City Cricket Club, Mr Molesworth says his team often spends up to half an hour clearing away broken bottles before their practise nets and pitch can be used. "We've often had to clear away broken glass before our games can start at 8.30am on a Saturday morning," he says. "The park is absolutely a target of vandalism, largely due to large groups drinking in the area on a Friday night. "They gather in the grandstand area to drink and can't be seen from the road, so they often throw their bottles over the top and onto the path below. It's terrible." As well as the youths drinking in the area, the clubrooms have recently been tagged and vandalised, leaving windows and doors smashed. Frequently, cars are set on fire up and down Mahara Ave on the approach to the park, and the club has also found homeless people sleeping under the stairs. "Taggers recently made a total mess of our clubrooms. Another concern is the numbers of cars who see fit to do donuts at the end of the road," he says. "This dangerous driving is done in broad daylight, too, which is extremely dangerous when small kids come out of the park. "We also removed an empty shed to discourage vagrants from sleeping in the area, but now they are under the stairs. It's difficult to know how to deal with this." Bob Wallace, North Shore City Council's parks officer for Birkenhead- Northcote, says there is a development plan underway for the park. "This park has been particularly targeted over the years and we've had quite a few incidents recently, but We have already made some headway on fixing things up. "Youths used to sit on couches they'd brought into the bush and so we removed them and trimmed back vegetation, and we blocked off car access to the skatepark where people used to hang out. "It's without a doubt one of the worst-hit parks for criminal activity." Mr Molesworth says, despite the council's efforts to help clean up the park, the club still struggles. "The poor lighting in the park doesn't help, so we'd like to see the whole grandstand area lit with sensor lights," he says. "A closed circuit television camera in the area would also help, but that's a big expense. "And, despite talks of speed humps or chicanes on Mahara Ave, so far nothing has been done. "Clubs like us really struggle to keep up with general maintenance so when windows are smashed and doors are broken we have to pay for the damage ourselves. It's very difficult for us."