Respect Kingsway Park
Created by @thatchamHaving recently attended the big park this morning, I was absolutely ashamed when I got there with my little child; the park was strewn with litter and the amount of graffiti evident within the skate park is not only offensive but is completely disgraceful.
I’m unsure if the litter was atypical of a Sunday morning but why isn’t this park being respected by the locals that use it? More to the point what was the point in installing a CCTV camera on the park, which is clearly not doing its job?
Editors Note: For more articles about ASB issues at "the big park" see:
Kingsway Community Walkabout: Results – (06/08/09)
Things that go BUMP in the night – (26/09/08)
Park Pranks and Kingsway Youths – (05/09/08)
Kingsway Park – Vandalism and ASB – (04/04/’08)
The Big Park – (03/04/08)
Kingsway Community Policing – (04/11/07)
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on Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 at 11:51 am
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June 8th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Hi I agree the park can look a bit messy – but compared to most other parks it doesn’t strike me as particularly bad!
Regarding your point about CCTV – it has long been proven CCTV has almost no impact on crime/anti-social behaviour (there is tonnes of evidence on this). It mainly makes people feel better!
The problem with CCTV is someone has to watch it – and that costs a fortune and even when they do see something most of the time people are impossible to distinguish due to the low quality of the footage.
To back this up some articles on CCTV’s effectiveness
BBC Article
Home Office Report on CCTV effectivness
I suspect the graffiti is from ‘bored’ teenagers. Hopefully the youth pod and other activities will help with this.
Regarding litter unfortunately people are just lazy (adults and children) and I suspect litter will always be an issue.
Maybe the Residents Association could organise a tidy up now and then?
June 9th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Unfortunately it doesnt matter what time of day you go to the park at weekends there are always groups of youths swearing, dropping litter etc.
I took my 8 year old grandson one day and he was very intimidated by them.
June 10th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hi Neighbours,
bgidley – You’re right about the CCTV; it’s not monitored at all and – during the Kingsway Community Walkabout last year, PC Fraser Mackie said:
Since the footage isn’t monitored (unless, presumably – a serious enough crime is reported, and even then it takes ages to obtain) it isn’t likely to deter anybody.
The Youth Pod is open , but attendance so far has been pitiful
We (The Residents Association Committee) did discuss a plan to organise a “litter-picking exercise”, but had problems related to Public Liability Insurance! (I think… hopefully one of my colleagues will confirm this)!
Fortunately we are organising said PLI and I’m sure we’ll revisit the subject soon.
I must admit that the litter around Kingsway is very depressing, it apalls me that people can be so careless / lazy
Gillian – Sorry to hear that. On the few occasions I’ve been there I’ve seen youths sitting around looking bored but haven’t come across any bad behaviour.
June 10th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Hi,
I’m surprised you are shocked about all the litter around Kingsway. Yes I agree it’s an eyesore and unnecessary but many folk just don’t give a damn about their environment and their waste.
Does everybody recycle their waste? I think not. Hope things improve but it’s unlikely… We live in a ‘throw away society’.
Can’t wait to go on a 6 month mountain retreat in Bhutan and see how that country treats their environment.
Regards the youth pod… Yes it’s early days but if its not used -surely that tells you it ain’t what the youth of Kingsway and surrounding areas want, or am I missing something?
Tally ho Kingsway for a while.
June 11th, 2010 at 1:03 am
Hi cucco,
I don’t think anyone is shocked about the litter situation, just sad
Bhutan eh? Nice… I was invited to give a paper in India around 6-7 years ago, but I was too busy at the time so couldn’t do it! I wish I could have, I have made many Indian friends and colleagues online and would love to meet some of them.
As far as the Youth Pod is concerned, I think it’s a little too early to conclude that it’s not wanted; I suspect the problem is more that not many local youths are aware of it yet. We’re trying to get some literature from Equals so we can leaflet the Village and will also ask the School to help publicise the fact that it’s open. I suppose this is also not the best time of year to coax kids inside in the evenings.
Have a great time in Bhutan
June 15th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Some rubbish bins would be a nice idea. I’m afraid I struggle with my fortnightly collection – and yes, before you ask I do use my food bin and my recycling box is generally full. I have a young child still in nappies whiich takes up most of the room!
I used to pick stuff up, but am now aware of the lack of space in my bin, so won’t do it anymore.
June 16th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
bgidley – It wasn’t particularly bad when I was there; being a local concerned with the appearance of our local park I picked up all the rubbish that was lying around.
The Youth Pod is a great idea for the local children, but unfortunately those who will cause all the grafitti and the anti-social behaviour will not be the ones who attend this facility. I would like to think that it is – as the graffitti blazed across the skatepark suggests – children from Quedgeley and not local children from Kingsway who are disturbing the appearance of the park.
June 25th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
The pod has finally been installed, then. Did they end up putting it on school grounds, or somewhere else?
June 26th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Hi Joe K,
It’s on the school grounds…
More information here.
November 14th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Having not had a walk around the Kingsway in daylight for a very long time, this afternoon seemed a good time to go whilst I had family visiting.
I walked up the footpath along the field to the big park. The small roundabout that is at the end had glass bottles on it and the tarmac was covered in glass (of a spirit bottle variety). Alongside the park and in the park was lots of litter and glass lager bottles. There has clearly been a party there at some point and all of the litter and glass still in the park. I was personally embarrassed about this as it really makes the Kingsway look unappealing.
Is the CCTV working on the park? This should be a preventative for whoever was partying there. Although I fear it’s not working… If this is the case is there anything we can do to get it working?
The second thing which highly annoyed me was seeing dogs crap on and around the field and their owners not picking it up. It might be worth getting the dog warden to come and have a look around the Kingsway while they’re going about their daily duties. I clear my dogs up regardless of where it is, others need to do the same.
The positive of my walk was to see how much the village has developed since I last walked around; cycle paths, childrens centre etc… So it wasn’t all doom n gloom!
December 30th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
We have noted the unsightly view of a large white mattress dumped outside a residents property close to the traffic lights as you turn right in order to head toward the underpass, and Tesco’s. The mattress was first dumped on the pavement itself before being placed against the railings of the property – not the most pleasant view!
I have since spoken with Mr Shield’s (Director of Environmently Services) of the council – he is now addressing it’s removal understanding this hasn’t obtained a response from QUVL via their email address but that’s become the norm for them!