Bristol park taken over by gangs and drug users, say residents
Hartcliffe residents say drug users and drunken teenagers are making a local park a no-go area.
People living near Willmott Park, off Whitchurch Lane, say large gangs of youths take over the park at night and dealers are also reported to have used it for business.
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Willmott Park
No one the Post spoke to would give their names for fear of reprisal, but all said anti-social behaviour was an ongoing issue at the park, one of Hartcliffe's largest green spaces.
One 42-year-old woman, who has lived in Hartcliffe all her life, said the park was a meeting point for bored teenagers.
She said: "You get kids tearing up and down at all hours, riding their motorbikes up and down the road, normally until 10pm or midnight.
"It's teenagers, though some look as young as 10, and they've all got booze.
"It can start with four or five, then you'll get a dozen. I think it's boredom, there's nothing for them to do around here.
"You don't get people going down there to tell them to shut up, because you'd get a smack in the mouth.
"I know there was some drug users in the flats, you'd see them with cocaine, burning spoons.
"It was one of the reasons why we put up a 10ft fence in our garden. Our children were quite young at the time.
"I don't think it's going to change that quickly, but it is frustrating as working people. You just think 'Get a job'."
A young mum who lives opposite the park said drug using was still a problem in the area.
She said: "You get drug users in the blocks of flats next to the park.
"I've got kids and don't really want that around them.
"You see people go in there with shopping and they don't come out with it.
"They're giving them their shopping to get what they want.
"You're forever seeing people hanging around, druggies who look like tramps."
Last month Avon and Somerset police held a Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting in the area, which gave residents the opportunity to raise such concerns.
At the meeting in March, officers agreed to make the issue a priority.
A police spokesman said: "We haven't had any reports of kids getting drunk, but we have had reports of damage and graffiti.
"This issue has been one of our PACT priorities and we had a meeting with residents on March 18.
"We are working with the Willmott Park Group to address the problems."
5 Comments
by Bad Chicken, Near Hartcliffe
Saturday, April 11 2009, 1:33AM
“Good idea John, North Bay, lets have some skin head thugs or BNP supporting ignorant knobs hanging round the park insted.”
by Pjotr, Bristol
Saturday, April 11 2009, 12:45AM
“...and how exactly is voting BNP going to sort this problem out? BNP councillors are notorious for their incompetency... they're a one-trick pony who like to blame all societies ills on immigrants. You'd be lucky to find many immigrants around Wilmott Park, so who are they going to scapegoat? Wilfully ignorant and unambitious white working class Britons whose highpoint is Giro day? Of course not, that's their vote base...”
by John, North Bay, Canada
Friday, April 10 2009, 11:49PM
“The answer to this ever growing problem is to change your ideas at election time, the BNP may be tasteless to many but do you in all honesty think that anyone from the liblabcon party has the backbone or the will to tackle this social nightmare. The liberal pc treat them nice brigade has failed, the do nothing approach that is now in effect just helps the problem grow, time for some harsh reality, meaningful policing and punnishments and a complete change in ideas and actions. Its time the people at the sharp end had a say.”
by John, Horfield
Friday, April 10 2009, 7:50PM
“"At the meeting in March, officers agreed to make the issue a priority"
Well, that's sorted then...”
by gerry, bristol
Friday, April 10 2009, 6:24PM
“What in Hartcliffe? noooooo.”