Paddy Pantsdown wrote:My generation did own the streets. Nobody dare park a car on our footie pitch. Its where we lived, its where we played. Its where we exhausted ourselves for the price of a few bent flower borders.
Now - as you eloquently describe - they have no right to the street. Its there to provide free parking for grown-up's gas-guzzling motors. Much more important.
I'm not defending those kids. But I would be pretty pi**ed off if I was a young lad with the way I'm treated by us lot. Its hardly surprising when in return they show us no favours. The first Sydenham Assembly noted the lack and removal of youth activities in our Town. We need to do something about it. There were a lot of teenages there who wanted to help. Can we look on this problem more positively than as pure crime & punishment issue.
Kids playing footie should be a good thing. Needs encouraging. I suppose clearing the street and having a tournament followed by a street party might be too ambitious?
PP
I agree kids should be aloud to play out i think there is nothing better then seeing kids play out and the sound of there laughter, and i think that would be a fab idea But seriously Paddy you come and stay in Fairlawn park on a bad night and see what we have to put up with and then you will be just as upset as us residents.
I agree that there should be more youth centers for the kids
But when they damage your property don't move out of a main bit of road for a car to pass who have the right of way block your front door with there bike then they are in the wrong.
Don't get me wrong not all the kids are out of order my 70% of them are. We have had window smashed by a water bomb that had stones in them, who going to pay for that not them? that will be us!
My parents dar is so scratched because of the bikes they chuck up against them, a few doors down had a hose pipe put through there letter box and turned on, again who is going to pay for the damage we are.
I am just so fed up off it, I spend half my time here and half my time in West London and it has got to the point i dread coming back to Fairlawn Park after living here 26 years this is not good news.