School Playing Fields

Why does Birmingham Council insist on locking up school playing fields, once school finishing time comes?

Parents today, don't want to see their children move too far from the family home, that is those who even dare today to allow them out on the streets to play. But children need to play and play in a safe and secure environment.

I would rather see children play football or cricket in a park or playing field than in any road, yet when there is a playing field literally at the back of the home, fenced off like Fort Knox, they have no where else close by to exert themselves in relative safety, from cars and vans.

One of our local Policing Teams are keen to engage with one particular group of youngsters, so much so that the youngsters have challenged them to a football tournament, during the Easter holidays, but over at Swanshurst Leisure Centre. May the best team win.

But to just take these youngsters off the road for an afternoon, which the Police have to be applauded for, simply isn't enough. Why doesn't Birmingham Council, allow the playing field to be used for more local tournaments?: Why can't keen adults, who are prepared to do coaching with these youngsters have the permission to use the playing field for such activities?

Leaving youngsters to gather on our streets, will and has lead to vandalism, they are not a lost cause, when given the opportunity they have and will contribute to our area.

Let us all hope that someone eventually wakes up to the fact that young people are not all vandals.