A RESIDENTS group formed to combat anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood during the summer is calling on Christchurch council to remove a children's playground in the area.

Organisers of the Rodney Drive action group claim the council-owned playground originally built to serve the nearby Hawthorns housing estate is acting as a magnet for young rowdies.

And they have collected 140 signatures on a petition asking for the facility to be removed.

In his preamble to the petition, due to be handed to the Mayor at the council meeting next Tuesday, action group chairman Patrick Scanlan said the problems had become "quite unbearable" during the summer and listed a catalogue of complaints about the activities of youths frequenting the playground.

These included alleged under-aged drinking and smoking, litter, vandalism, late night noise and other anti-social behaviour.

The petitioners also claim the playground, intended for young children, is now monopolised by "troublesome" older youths and small children are scared to use it without an adult and cans, broken glass and other debris left lying around the park is also unsightly and dangerous.

And among the playground equipment the slide is singled out for particular abuse, being used, residents allege, as a makeshift urinal - a fate also suffered by nearby gardens.

Mr Scanlan said: "Despite a perfectly good playing field nearby, the area is used for football and the slide becomes a goal post.

"When bored with such horseplay, instead of dispersing they seek out other unlawful mischief; breaking fences, removing bricks from wall of houses backing on to the area and jumping on sheds."

The problems also spread to the area around the local convenience store in Jellicoe Drive which it is claimed has become a "no- go area" for vulnerable residents intimidated by the youths gathering on the nearby green.

"The above is but a cross-section of what we have had to endure. The last summer holiday it became quite unbearable," said Mr Scanlan.

First published: October 19