Darker side of the sports cages

Sep 26 2008

I WAS astonished to read of East Ayrshire Council being “nominated for an award for its good work” in erecting sports ‘cages’ throughout the area. (Kilmarnock Standard, August 25, 2008).

Clearly, those who consider that this has been “good work” have no idea how those facilities are used, especially during the hours of darkness.

The cages, in common with totally inappropriately sited play areas, simply form meeting places for youths to engage in drinking, swearing, playing loud music, intimidating and often terrorising those who live nearby.

Anyone who considers that East Ayrshire Council deserves an award should visit the ‘cage’ at Crosshouse on any weekend evening, watch youths arrive by bus from Kilmarnock laden with alcohol and observe their extreme anti-social behaviour.

Those misguided people should also read of the relief of Kilmarnock residents (Kilmarnock Standard, August 18, 2008) that the play area adjacent to their homes had been destroyed.

It has been claimed that there has been a 46 per cent fall in youth related complaints to the police within a year of the cages being built. This, however, does not indicate that behaviour has improved.

What the statistics do show is that venues have been provided for anti-social behaviour and that those affected tend to be people who live near the ‘cages’.

Those residents are considered of no importance by councillors and council officials.

If ‘cages’ and other recreational facilities are so desirable then why are they not sited adjacent to the homes of councillors and senior council officials? It is clear the those who decide on the siting of ‘cages’ regard with contempt those who suffer the antisocial behaviour which ensues.

– Name and address supplied.