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The BMX track and playground were unveiled last year
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Drug dealers turn BMX track into no-go zone

By Victoria Corbett
May 13, 2011

A BMX park funded with more than £50,000 of funds for improving the community has become a “no-go area” for families with young children.

Police are stepping up patrols around the facility behind Morrisons in Woosehill after reports of underage drinking, anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

PC Tin Wong, neighbourhood specialist officer for Emmbrook and Woosehill, said: “The BMX park behind Morrisons is causing police problems with kids drinking alcohol, anti-social behaviour and information has been received that drug dealing is going on.

“The police and Wokingham Borough Council have fought so hard to get the facilities so that children and adults alike can enjoy it.

“It has now become a no-go area for families with young children who feel intimidated and scared to use it.
More police patrols are being organised between police officers, street wardens and PCSOs to combat the
problem.”

Litter and smashed bottles are being found at the BMX track and nearby playground, which PC Wong says further
puts off families from using the facilities.

He said: “Families go down there and think we have got underage drinking going on here and so they are keeping away.

“It should be a family place as there is play equipment there and the BMX track, it is for families at the end of the day.”

Councillor Philip Mirfin, leader of Wokingham Town Council and councillor for Emmbrook, said he was deeply disappointed to hear of the reports.

He said: “The whole reason for putting that there was not only that the teenagers wanted it there but that they would look after it.

“It is quite a big investment by the town council and Play for England.”

The facility opened in October last year and is not the only new play facility to have suffered from yob behaviour in recent weeks.

A new playground was unveiled at the King George V playing fields, off Goodchild Road, on April 27 by town mayor Councillor UllaKarin Clark.

However, last week vandals struck at the taxpayer-funded playground, ripping handles from a new see saw.

Wokingham Town Council will have to foot the bill for repairs.

Wokingham Borough Council and Wokingham Town Council worked together to provide the BMX facility following a campaign from local young people for better facilities for youths.

Funds came from the town council and the Play for England fund, which put forward around £45,000 for the project.

Youngsters even picked the location, saying it would be more easily accessible for local teens.

The see saw at King George V playing fields has been sealed off to the public while the town council waits for engineers to fix it.

Paul Smith, amenities officer, said: “It is doubly annoying because the equipment has just been put in.”

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Most recent user comments 3 of 3

Jolly chap, just to verify then, your point is if there is a drug or drinking problem area somewhere, the best thing is to just 'leave it as it is' and ignore it? It is exactly that type of head in the sand thinking that causes the gradual decline of communities and creates 'no go' areas in the first place. if the WDC decide to try to improve an area that should be available to all families without intimidation or fear of safety then it should be applauded, not simply dismissed as a muppet idea.

I 100% agree with David above however it is not usually 'responsible' adults buying the alcohol in the first place it is usually one 18 year old who, for whatever reasons, decides to hold company with younger individuals (no point in pointing out the mental age of these individuals is likely to be on a par or less than these younger 'friends') who get the alcohol for them then give it out. The problem is that the supermarkets, and lets face it, it is most likely Morrissons where the alcohol is coming from, are not using their right to refuse alcohol sales to people they suspect of supplying to minors. the supermarkets just check Id and if they are 18, no problem.... Its not hard to make a judgment call when you see these scruffy kids coming in with their pocket full of change to buy 8 cans of whatever is the cheapest larger and if they are refused the alcohol, who really is going to complain and on what grounds? The supermarkets NEED to exercise their right to refuse the sale and if they get one or two complaints then that should be FAR outweighed by the number of supporting people on our communities who agree with the stand.... that is the only way to stop this happening.

Country chap, wokingham
17/05/2011 at 15:30

Once again an article which discusses the results of a problem rather than the cause. There needs to be a serious investigation into where the teenagers obtain their alcohol backed up by some action to close off those sources. Having a known place were drinking regularly takes place should help with any investigation, providing it goes beyond just confiscation. Stopping the alcohol abuse will probably reduce any drug problem as one follows the other.

We need laws which lead to prosecution of any adult who aids or even allows teenagers to obtain alcohol. This also shows the urgent need for minimum alcohol pricing which would not only reduce under age purchases but also cause adults to look after own stocks more carefully.

David Wilson, Wokingham
15/05/2011 at 14:22

The kids were drinking and doing drugs there long before the BMX thing was built and it was common knowledge. What amazes me is that WDC (who must have known the reputation of the area) built the park there - Muppets!