Troublemakers back at Thatcham play area

Neighbours say that after 18-months of peace, their weekends are being blighted again by gangs at Turnfields

PEOPLE whose homes back on to Turnfields play area fear that gangs of youths are becoming a problem again.

The residents, who have been living in peace for the past 18 months, said that they have endured three consecutive weekends of anti-social behaviour.

The playground has been the source of a headache for those living nearby for many years, as it became a meeting area for youths, who littered it with smashed bottles and cans and even destroyed hundreds of daffodils planted around the edges.

A woman from Coombe Court, which backs on to the play area, said that she was once again having to put up with noise and criminal damage from youths hanging about on Friday and Saturday nights.

She asked not to be named for fear of reprisals but said that she spoke on behalf of the residents.

“We don't want to stop them having fun but we do want them to consider other people – that's the problem,” she said.

“It's just seeming to rear its ugly head again.

“It has caused my husband to have problems with his breathing.

“You try to get on with your life but you cannot because you don't know what's going to happen.

“It's not just the residents, but the police and the town council who have to get involved.

“Three weeks ago I was hoping it was a one-off but the second weekend I thought, here we go again.

“For me it is about nipping it in the bud and getting them out of the park.”

She added that the police had said that they would increase patrols in the area.

Town and district councillor Richard Crumly (Con, Thatcham Central), who sits on the Turnfields working party, urged people to keep a diary of the problems to give to the police.

He promised to contact the neighbourhood wardens to make sure they are briefed about the issues.

He also said that he would visit the play area to see the problems for himself.