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Anthony Allert, 15, Rabby Ali, 14, Cascade Waddell, 14,Jamil Ali, 11, Kevin Jaramillo, 14, Lukas Audickas, 13, with community worker Maria Michael |
Injury time at pitch that is too dangerous for kids
Plea for improvements after young players break arms and ankles
TEENAGERS on a Highbury estate are pleading for improvements to a football pitch that has become so dangerous young players have suffered broken arms and ankles.
The rough, rat-infested pitch at Spring Gardens estate in Grosvenor Avenue is littered with old springs and broken glass, and is an occasional venue for gang fights.
Youngsters say money spent on putting up barriers to bar “mini-moto” bikes from the estate could have been used to upgrade the dangerous pitch.
The teenagers say that, in any case, the bikes are now out of fashion.
When balls are kicked out of the cage round the pitch into the scrub behind, children are forced to rummage in undergrowth littered with old syringes and infested with rat droppings.
Jamil Ali, 11, said: “Every time we go onto the pitch someone gets hurt. It’s so rough that my leg got caught in the ground and I broke my ankle.”
Rabby Ali, 14, fell over and almost ripped his mouth open when his lips were caught in his dental brace. He said: “My whole face went numb. The pitch is so dangerous.”
Community worker Maria Michael said it was “a disgrace” that Homes for Islington (HfI), which runs the estate, had failed to prevent the injuries.
She said: “Every child who plays on that pitch comes away with horrific injuries.”
Ms Michael added: “It’s such a paradox that our councillors are among the best paid in the country and Homes for Islington executives are on massive pay packets, yet they are refusing to pay a few thousand pounds to stop these children badly injuring themselves. I find it almost unbelievable that this ‘pitch’ is even allowed to stay open on health and safety grounds.”
The condition of the pitch became worse when HfI contractors parked lorries there while carrying out improvements to the estate three years ago.
Ms Michael has worked with the teenagers on creating designs to improve the pitch, which she says have been ignored by housing chiefs.
The young people want an Astroturf or safe surface and the area around the cage improved. They say an old electricity sub-station should be removed and replaced with swings and play equipment.
Lib Dem councillor Anna Berent wants to band together with other councillors to raise some of the cash needed and hopes to convince housing bosses to stump up the rest.
Cllr Berent said: “I’m trying to get some idea about what the potential costs are. I’m aware there’s been a problem for some time and the pitch seems to have been damaged even further by the lorries. It is something I have to take up with HfI.”
An HfI spokesman said: “HFI consulted with residents last year on several options for renewing the Spring Gardens Estate play area. The result of the consultation was clear that residents did not want work carried out. Money has been invested in facilities on the adjoining Highbury Estate including a new toddler play area and football pitch which was felt by the residents on to be adequate for their needs as well.
“We will inspect the Spring Gardens play area to ensure it is safe and clean.” |
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