By John Connell

Last updated at 11:30, Monday, 20 August 2012

An area is in desperate need of investment after more than a decade of neglect, claims a town councillor.

Stephen Stoddart

Independent Stephen Stoddart is fighting for improved outdoor facilities for Moorclose Green in Workington.

The Green had play equipment but it was removed 15 years ago, leaving some areas with loose flaps of perished foam and jagged bits of metal poking through.

Weeds have sprouted through the broken paving which contained broken glass and appeared to have been used for fires.

Mr Stoddart believes the uneven ground may pose a danger to young people and wants the areas levelled off and re-surfaced. He also wants to see goalposts on the land near to the old social club which he said had been previously been used as a football pitch.

He said: “The area is neglected. They took the old apparatus out 15 years ago.

“All I have asked is for them [the council] to clear the old play areas, to make it a clean and safe environment for the kids.

“I don’t want a new play area there but at the moment its derelict and used as a dog toilet. I want a big clean up campaign. But in 15 years it hasn’t been touched.”

Dog-walker David Saul, 67, of Bowness Court, said facilities for young people in Moorclose were non-existent. He said: “They [children] have nothing to do and it’s worse when they are off school.”

Mother-of-four Melinda Pettit, of Udale Court, said: “I have three little ones and there is nothing for children up here.”

But a spokeswoman for Allerdale Council said: “Moorclose Green is neither a designated football pitch nor a strategic play area and as such there is no council budget allocated to play equipment in this area.

“The site is classed as open parkland.

“However, we are currently in discussions with Mr Stoddart regarding the proposals for equipment if he can arrange for the liabilities and maintenance of the equipment to be taken on.”

The council was also asked about the cost of re-surfacing and whether there were any plans to improve the area.

The spokeswoman added: “Health and safety officers have inspected the area of concern and remedial action is to be undertaken.”

Mr Stoddart carried out a survey of 300 people on Calder Drive, Coniston Close, Lady Court and Lakeland View to see if they would welcome football posts.

“I haven’t had a single no” he said.

He is also campaigning for a youth club at the Moorclose Community Centre and has collected 650 signatures on a petition. When he reaches 1,000 signatures he said he would present it to the council.

He hopes that an improved play area would benefit those aged 10 and under, while the youth club would be for those aged between 10 and 16.

“If we had these facilities perhaps these kids wouldn’t be tempted to get involved with drink and drugs” he said.

The investment calls come after council leader Alan Smith had said that the Workington Leisure Centre in Moorclose would close following the opening of a £10 million sports complex to be built somewhere in Workington.

First published at 11:24, Monday, 20 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk