Visitor to Hucknall park was 'shocked' by its dangerous state

Coun Keir Morrison, who is a councillor for the Hucknall South Ward, said: “I visited Albert Street recreational ground in Hucknall North Ward and was shocked to find the area in the worse state I've seen it in for years.

"I had a ten minute walk around the area and came across the following, yellowed overgrown grass which is staining people's feet/clothes, bent goal posts that haven't been replaced since I reported this years ago, ugly graffiti sprayed all over the back brick walls and Adizone which contains profanity which hasn't been addressed since I reported it years ago, smashed glass and empty laughing gas canisters all over the kids play areas, dog foul all over the grass and kids play areas, ripped up and unfinished tarmac on Adizone and kids play areas, takeaway litter and beers cans all over the grass and fencing that hasn't seen a coat of paint for years and flaking and rusting around kids play park.

"In fact, I would go so far as saying the kids play park isn't safe to use, I certainly wouldn't let my five-year-old daughter go on there because of trip hazards and risk of injury.

“Is Hucknall no longer a priority?”

Coun David Martin, councillor for environment and waste at Ashfield District Council, said “Ashfield has some amazing parks and green spaces and we pride ourselves on maintaining them to the highest standard.

“The Albert Street recreation ground has had the grass cut and has been litter picked.

“The Environment team will be visiting the site in the upcoming days to paint over the graffiti.

"There are also plans in place to improve the surface of the children’s play area and to remove the unused goal posts.

"We will be carrying out regular checks on the recreation ground to ensure it remains a clean and safe place for residents to enjoy.

“We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of repair and improvement at a number of sites across the district over the next few months and will review any issues at this site and address them.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor