Vansittart Rec
Update
An Open Letter
to local councillors
Vansittart
Road Skate Park Index
Local
Matters
Diary
Index
Royal
Windsor Home Page
6th June 2001
Dear Councillor
You may be aware that local residents in
the area around the Vansittart Recreation Ground Skate Park are
increasingly concerned at the significant vandalism and generally
unacceptable behaviour that this facility has generated.
Complaints include noise late into the
night, uprooted trees, widespread graffiti, threatening behaviour,
drinking of alcohol, smoking of drugs, the 'racing' of cars along
the access road, damage to property along the routes to and from
the facility, broken glass and a general degeneration of areas
that were previously quiet residential roads.
In addition, there has been a total lack
of attention to the Millennium Mural, as created by The Oakbridge
Centre almost two years ago. You will have seen the reports in
the newspapers of racist graffiti, at this and other locations,
and the publicly expressed concern from the police that the RBWM
are far too slow in attending to incidences of graffiti. To that
I would add that belated attempts at a clean up literally 'scratch
the surface' and have no significant effect on the scrawls. The
racist graffiti has been 'covered up' with bright yellow paint,
which in itself draws attention to its existence and to the unpleasant
obscenities still visible beneath. The mural extends for the
full length along one side of the underpass and had survived
unharmed for over a year. The opposite side, in brightly coloured
panels, did not last quite so long, but is now a total eyesore.
We have photographic evidence of the various occurrences of graffiti
damage dating back to last year and which remains to this day
for all to see. All who use the underpass are saddened by this
situation as the mural was much admired. It is now merely testament
to the Borough's lack of concern over such matters and has resulted
in regular unsightly additions on almost a daily basis.
You will not be surprised to learn that
the residents in the area are furious at the whole concept of
a Skate Park in this area, the attendant vandalism and the apparent
lack of action on the Borough's part. Whilst they welcome the
children's area, plus the attention given to the recreation ground
in general, there is considerable concern over how the area will
look in the coming months. It is to be hoped that the area will
be given proper supervision, regular maintenance and that a determined
effort will be made to identify those responsible and eradicate
this vandalism and loutish behaviour.
I am advised by the Home Office that the
government has stated that the most effective way to tackle the
problem of vandalism is through co-ordinated preventative action
at the local level, involving all the relevant agencies such
as local authorities, schools and voluntary bodies, as well as
the police. The problem has to be identified locally, a means
of tackling it discussed with all the parties concerned and a
plan of action drawn up with local needs in mind. The police
and local authorities have a statutory duty under the Crime and
Disorder Act 1998 to develop crime reduction partnerships designed
to develop strategies for tackling any crime problem, such as
graffiti and vandalism, which they identify. The Crime and Disorder
Act has also introduced a comprehensive range of measures to
reform the youth justice system. These include a Final Warning,
which will trigger intervention by local agencies to nip offending
in the bud, the halving of the time taken to process young offenders
from arrest to sentence, and the Child Protection Order, which
will ensure that young children are kept off the streets and
out of trouble, late at night, where this is necessary. In addition,
the courts have been given a range of new community sentences
which will be aimed at making young offenders face up to the
consequences of their actions, changing attitudes and behaviour
and at curtailing offending behaviour at an early stage. For
example, The Reparation Order will require the young person to
make specific reparation to the victim or the community which
he has harmed. Measures such as these will confront young offenders
with their behaviour and produce some worthwhile community benefit
in the form of reparation and reduced offending.
In the absence of such attention, all local
residents are agreed on a major campaign to have the Skate Park
removed. I trust that we can rely on your support in achieving
an acceptable solution.
With my thanks for considering the above.
A copy of a current leaflet describing the residents' concerns
is enclosed.
Editor. The Royal Windsor Web
Site
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