Middlesbrough kids play park plans rejected due to fear of crime

A council has rejected its own plan for a new play area after police said it could become a magnet for crime.

Middlesbrough Council had proposed the playground in Thorntree but planning officers said it was not "desirable, safe or secure".

Cleveland Police lodged the only objection to the scheme near Caldicot's Primary Academy.

One councillor who supported the plan said there was "nothing for the kids of Brambles Farm".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said police deemed the proposed park near Spencerfield Crescent to be in a secluded area of high crime.

The planning application mentioned a nearby multi-use games area (MUGA) which had "broken fencing and evidence of tyre tracks showing anti-social use of off-road motorcycles".

It also said a nearby former play area had suffered "vandalism and abuse" leaving it "beyond use".

The report stated the proposed play area would experience a "similar outcome" with the location not allowing the "play area to be a desirable, safe or secure community facility".

A designing out crime officer from Cleveland Police said the site could generate crime, increase fear of crime and attract anti-social behaviour.

The police argued as it would be located at the back of people's homes with poor lighting and little "natural surveillance" from houses or busy public areas, there would be "many hideaways and escape routes to enable anti-social behaviour and other crime".

The plan was recommended for refusal and was rejected by the council's planning committee.

Councillor David Coupe said it was a strange case of the council putting forward a plan, yet eventually turning it down.

He said: "It was decided it was too dangerous and it would get vandalised."

Brambles and Thorntree Councillor Graham Wilson who supported the plan, said he was still in favour of it.

"My main concern is we've got nothing for the kids of Brambles Farm," he said, adding: "We're trying to give the kids something for them to do, anything to get them off the streets, keep them happy, give them some focus, somewhere to go."

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