Troubled playground plagued by antisocial behaviour faces closing at night

The park, at Peregrine Way in Cannock, would be shut from 8pm every night under plans to be decided on by community leaders.

More than a dozen residents had raised issues over excessive noise from the area in 2014. Further complaints have been made about graffiti and litter.

Environmental Health and Public Protection officers investigated the problems and now the district council's planning committee will make a decision on whether to enforce changes to its availability times at a meeting on Wednesday.

Other measures which have been put forward include removing the 'teenager shelter' and reducing the height of the fencing on the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) from three metres to two.

In a report, the officers from the Environmental Health and Public Protection team said: "In the summer of 2014 Environmental Protection received complaints from 12 residential properties adjacent to this facility regarding various issues, particularly noise from ball games late at night.

"Only one complaint was received last year regarding the use of these facilities, with youths playing football at 10.30pm.

"In addition, concerns were raised at the time about anti-social behaviour, graffiti, litter and an influx of older children into the area checking car door handles etc.

"It is considered that restricting the hours of use will prevent a recurrence of the aforementioned issues – and it is understood that proposals are in place to open and close the facilities in line with other parks within the district."

The environmental officers also called for the park's availability to be reduced even further in winter – to close between 4pm until 8am – and has recommended CCTV be put in place.

Staffordshire Police has come out in defence of the park and objected to the removal of the 'teenager shelter'.

Responding to a consultation on the proposed changes an architectural liaison officer on the force said: "This facility has a number of positives; it's obviously being well-used, it has good natural surveillance ensuring that a child is less likely to be bullied, attacked or abducted, it's local and most children will be able to be seen by their parents, and it has a range of play equipment to suit all ages.

"Talking to parents who live in nearby apartments and have no garden of their own gives their own children a safe environment in which to have supervised playtime."

Officers at Cannock Chase District Council have recommended proposed changes go ahead, although CCTV was deemed inappropriate because the area had good natural surveillance from surrounding homes.

The park was built by developer Persimmon Homes West Midlands as part of a housing scheme introduced to the area.