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8:18pm Wednesday 12th September 2007
Cash is being ploughed into sport facilities on an Oxford estate to try to reduce the number of fights and incidents of criminal damage.
Oxford city councillors approved plans for two new floodlights for a sports pitch in Rose Hill - and hope this will draw youngsters away from the trouble-hit Oval area.
The £20,000 scheme was approved at a meeting on Monday night, and the 30ft high floodlights will be installed at the Rose Hill sports ground, in Ashhurst Way, by the end of the year.
Floodlights already surround an adjacent grass pitch, but the new lights will illuminate an all-weather five-a-side football pitch, basketball court and youth shelter.
Rose Hill's youngsters will be able to use the facility until the lights go out at 10pm - giving them an alternative place to go in the dark winter months.
Matty Gregory, 19, from Court Farm Road, said: "It's a good thing to do. We've got nothing up here - we haven't got a leisure centre or anything.
"To come up here with the lights will keep us off the streets and from doing all the stupid stuff.
"We are getting in trouble because we have not got anything to do. It will be something to do - it is something for the community."
His friend, Iain Milligan, 17, from Thompson Terrace, in Littlemore, said: "It is good. It will keep people away from The Oval - all the trouble happens on The Oval. It will reduce the level of violence."
The Oval has become the focal point for youths to gather, some of whom have attacked foreign students, damaged property and intimidated passers-by.
Police retaliated by creating a dispersal zone, meaning they can move on suspected troublemakers.
Antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) have also been issued to four brothers who were responsible for a number of incidents.
Ed Turner, city councillor for Rose Hill, said the floodlight scheme was part of a 'carrot and stick' approach.
He said councillors devised the plan after consulting youths at The Oval about what initiatives would keep them out of trouble.
Mr Turner said: "In the past there have been problems with criminal damage, particularly with things like walls being knocked over.
"There were gangs hanging around being a little bit unfriendly, or rude and aggressive to passers by - that was the main thing.
"The sports ground is well out of the way of residential properties - it's not going to cause people any real bother.
"It's really just about providing a bit more for kids to do in the area so we do not get the problems of people larking about."
Adam French, sports development officer for the estate, said: "It will make a massive difference. The main reason behind antisocial behaviour is boredom.
"Having somewhere you can play football in the winter months or other sports later in the evening should help reduce that."
tpebop, Oxford says...
11:58pm Wed 12 Sep 07
ox1, ox1 says...
1:02am Thu 13 Sep 07
tpebop wrote:just cuz u lot think rose hill people are scum i agree in a way though cuz they'll still ave trouble at the oval guaranteed infact i bet u a squillion pound lol
May as well burn £20,000 worth of notes.What a waste of our money
Louise, Oxford says...
1:44am Thu 13 Sep 07
Rich wrote:Unfortunatly not everyone grew up seemingly on a country farm with only their brothers and sisters for company! Rose Hill has been in trouble since before the seventies and there was anti-social behaviour back then too you know! If you look seriously at Rose Hill compared to other large estates in Oxford there is nothing there, look at all the facilities Blackbird Leys have for example? yes i know it is very close but the walk there is dangerous. The only nearby leisure facility is Peers Sports Centre and that is due to close shortly. All facilities are abused no matter where they are for example I ws looking at all the graffitti and mess left in a rec area in Summertown, north oxford dahhhling, which is why i see little harm in providing a neglected community with something that might let a few people gain from it.
Where I grew up as a youngster in the 70s, we had no leisure centre either. In fact, the nearest pool was over 20 miles away. All we had was a field and even this didn't have anything useful such as goal posts. How come we managed to find things to do and didn't have to resort to antisocial behaviour and crime?? It's becoming a poor excuse, the council are throwing their money away on facilities that will be abused and vandalised by those they are trying to help.
jennifer, north oxford says...
7:05am Thu 13 Sep 07
Louise wrote:what's the point in being sarcastic about north oxford? just because it is north oxford does not mean that everybody is posh here so your Dahhling phrase is pathetic. We would love for there to be 20,000 pounds spent on recreation facilities here, but we won't get it, and why? because of stupid attitudes like yours. silly bint
Rich wrote: Where I grew up as a youngster in the 70s, we had no leisure centre either. In fact, the nearest pool was over 20 miles away. All we had was a field and even this didn't have anything useful such as goal posts. How come we managed to find things to do and didn't have to resort to antisocial behaviour and crime?? It's becoming a poor excuse, the council are throwing their money away on facilities that will be abused and vandalised by those they are trying to help.Unfortunatly not everyone grew up seemingly on a country farm with only their brothers and sisters for company! Rose Hill has been in trouble since before the seventies and there was anti-social behaviour back then too you know! If you look seriously at Rose Hill compared to other large estates in Oxford there is nothing there, look at all the facilities Blackbird Leys have for example? yes i know it is very close but the walk there is dangerous. The only nearby leisure facility is Peers Sports Centre and that is due to close shortly. All facilities are abused no matter where they are for example I ws looking at all the graffitti and mess left in a rec area in Summertown, north oxford dahhhling, which is why i see little harm in providing a neglected community with something that might let a few people gain from it.
Ox, Oxford says...
7:56am Thu 13 Sep 07
jennifer, oxford says...
8:24am Thu 13 Sep 07
Rich, Kidlington says...
9:14am Thu 13 Sep 07
look at all the facilities Blackbird Leys have for example?
jennifer, oxford says...
9:19am Thu 13 Sep 07
Jade, Oxford says...
9:58am Thu 13 Sep 07
Rich, Kidlington says...
10:47am Thu 13 Sep 07
s.e.o, bbl says...
10:58am Thu 13 Sep 07
Sid Hunt, says...
1:12pm Thu 13 Sep 07
George, Woodstock says...
1:40pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Adam, Oxford says...
3:42pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Louise, Oxford says...
12:25am Fri 14 Sep 07
jennifer, oxford says...
6:18am Fri 14 Sep 07
Louise, Oxford says...
2:52pm Fri 14 Sep 07
Adam, says...
3:45pm Mon 17 Sep 07
Jade, Oxford says...
1:14pm Fri 21 Sep 07
Louise wrote:Louise, you don't know anything about me, or where I live. For your information I do not live in North Oxford or anywhere similar. The reason I can say about what Rose Hill is like is that I lived there and worked with the kids and people there as well, so I know exactly what it is like. This is nothing against Council Estates or people that live in council houses, this is about one particular area and there is whether you want to admit it or not ALOT of trouble there! Things are ruined, and I don't think they should be spending money on it when the element of trouble still exists there (which is only a small group, but they cause alot of damage) I moved out because I couldnt stand the amount of damage being caused to the place I worked and my car and the abuse I got just walking down the street. So don't tell me I'm absorbed in my own little world as I know alot about that area, so maybe you shouldn't be making asumptions like that.
Actually I have worked at Ferry Sports Centre in the past and let me tell you the anti-social behaviour focused there with locker vandalism and breakins is far worse than any of the other sports centres in the council, by far the least vandalised is in fact Blackbird Leys and Barton Pool. The point I was making with the sarcasm at the 'dahhling comment' (may i direct the stupid bint comment back at yourself) is the 3m was spent on Ferry Sports Centre but none bitched about the vandalism and destruction that might and later would happen there. In fact everyone was thrilled about it because noone had the perception that it would be treated the way it is but as soon as people mention 'omg shock horror' a RUN DOWN COUNCIL ESTATE everyone is disgusted at the amount being spent trying to regenerate it. No offence intended to Adam above but cutteslowe is hardly the most reputable area yet their floodlights are still intact? Maybe Jade you need to re-**** your superior attitude towards people living in council estates and the problems that face them instead of being absorbed in your own little world where north oxford doesn't have a penny spent on it. HA.
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Rich, Kidlington says...
9:25pm Wed 12 Sep 07