It is very upsetting and distressing to read about the recent damage done to the flowerbeds in Cleethorpes and the attacks of vandalism done to Sydney and Grant Thorold Park. Even though we are told that these acts are being carried out by a minority it would seem that they are on the increase!

If we are to make our parks and green spaces a safe environment for people to enjoy and relax in then changes are well overdue. As members of the general public we can no longer afford to keep turning a blind eye to these problems and I would urge anyone who sees anything to report either to the Police or the Council any acts of vandalism or anti-social behaviour and littering.

I know of people who are not using the parks anymore because of all the trouble, yet we should have a right to enjoy these areas knowing that we and our children will be safe.

I was approached by a mother on the Duke of York Gardens recently who told me that her 7 year old son and his friends had found 4 syringes while playing on the park! Fortunately he took the syringe to his mother who passed it onto me for safe disposal, however if found syringes should not be picked up but reported to the Council who will come along and dispose of them properly. This happened on Saturday the 22nd July, two days later the mother saw a man who looked to be in his mid 30’s injecting himself in his thigh while hiding in the bushes. The mother challenged the man who immediately ran off, this happened around lunch time in broad daylight!

This isn’t the first time we have had an incident with syringes, in 2004 the Grimsby Telegraph ran a story about a young lad called Luke who was pinned down and stabbed with a syringe which was found by older boys. I personally have found 5 syringes on the Duke of York Gardens during the past couple of years.

There was time when we had park keepers who patrolled the parks ensuring that this sort of thing never happened and the parks were kept clean and tidy, we never used to see gangs drinking and taking drugs openly which is becoming an all too familiar sight these days.

Although I doubt we will ever see the return of the Park Keeper again, I am hopeful that the new Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) and the new Community Wardens will soon start making a difference. They will help the communities to win back the parks but they can only do this with the help and support of local people.

Let us show the authorities that we do care about our parks and green areas by reporting any issues we see, that way they will have to dedicate enough resources to tackle the problems adequately, we can’t keep on turning a blind eye to these issues anymore, let us show the minority that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.

I dread to think how much it costs the general public through council tax in clearing up and repairing the damage done by a mindless few, the money would be far better spent on tackling the cause rather than dealing with the effect.



To report issues to the Police please phone 08456 060222

To report issues to the Council please phone Grimsby (01472) 313131