'Vandals Are Ruining The Neighbourhood'

A STRETFORD resident from Ripon Road has expressed his concerns about vandalism in the area.

There has been ongoing problems for a while but it all got too much for the citizen when a group of teenagers destroyed three saplings in Ripon Park on Monday night.

The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "It was at about 8pm when the teenagers destroyed the saplings, they literally broke them in half.

"There used to be police patrols here in the past and Ripon Road was designated a hot spot but the patrols stopped a year ago. I think it happened on Monday because of the fireworks and excitement surrounding bonfire night."

He claimed that these acts of vandalism have angered a lot of people in the area.

There are organised meetings, which used to be monthly, at the library every two months, where concerned residents gather and discuss how they are going to improve the park.

The upset resident who contacted Messenger about the road's problems said:

"The teenagers throw stones. They are having stone fights and they are playing football over the flowers in the park, it's not for football. We put beautiful flowers in once and the day after; they'd pulled them all out."

Jonathan Coupe, executive councillor for safe and strong communities, said: "The council has not received any reports of recent incidents or anti-social behaviour on Ripon Road.

"We remain committed to driving down these figures and we will work with the public to identify those involved in incidents like that reported on Ripon Road."

(Published in the Stretford & Urmston Messenger on the 7th November 2013.)