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Residents see end to playground plan

Emma Scott
17/ 4/2008

A PLAYGROUND will not be built in Pot Hall after angry residents expressed their fury during a meeting to discuss the proposals.

The residents of Greenfield Court and nearby streets were up in arms about proposals to transform the land just yards from their homes.

The site had been earmarked as one of a number of sites being looked at by Pot Hall Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, which hoped to receive funding from Rochdale Council and Rochdale Federation of Tenant and Resident Associations (ROFTRA), to create a playground for children aged between two and 15.

But at the association’s Annual General Meeting on Monday, residents who did not wish to be named over fears of reprisals, spoke about the existing problems with antisocial behaviour and vandalism, which they feared could get worse if the playground was built.

They said the association failed to consult with them properly and reiterated that they wanted extra CCTV in the area.

One resident said: "It’s us that’s got to live with it and a lot of people here have the same type of concerns that I have got.

"One night, 40 or 50 lads came on the field. You cannot walk on the field for cans and bottles.

"If you put a rec there, you won’t be able to get rid of them. Would you want 50 kids on your lawn?"

On hearing of the residents’ disapproval, Margaret Sweatman, outgoing chairman of the association, decided to shelve the proposals.

She said: "The playground issue, I think, we should put to bed because obviously the residents do not want it there."

The land is currently used by Harwood Park Primary School for sports events.