Play rules will spoil our kids' fun say parents

A set of rules for how children should behave will ruin their summer, claim parents.
The park near the Parkside estate which residents say is not fit for purpose.The park near the Parkside estate which residents say is not fit for purpose.
The park near the Parkside estate which residents say is not fit for purpose.

People who live on the Parkside estate on Westgate received a letter telling them to ensure their kids do not enter any of their neighbours’ gardens without permission, play ball games in the street, cause a nuisance by swearing or behaving in a disrespectful way, cause a noise nuisance while playing on the street after 9pm or leave toys on the pavement or road.

A resident who does not wish to be named said: “The summer holidays are here and they want to go out to play and are getting moaned at for being kids.

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“The children should have the right to play in a safe and secure environment but the nearby park is full of dog dirt and discarded needles.”

Another resident who wished to remain anonymous said: “The letter is worded very rudely and having lived here since 2002, it is one of the worst letters we have ever had.”

A resident of Riverview Court said: “No-one will take any notice of the letter.“

The letter came from the Guinness Partnership housing association which manages the estate.

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A spokesman for the Guinness Partnership said: “We recently wrote to residents at Westgate in Morecambe after we received several complaints about children. We’re sorry if the tone of the letter caused any offence and we’d encourage anyone who has any questions or concerns to contact us so we can address their queries directly.”

Coun David Smith, Lancaster City Council cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Although we have not received any recent reports of needles and other dangerous items the site will be inspected and any items which pose a danger will be removed.”