Community Payback in Bury
Offenders Clearing Area With the Goal of Restoring Football Pitch to Former Glory
A FORMER football pitch opened by Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan is to be given a new lease of life by offenders.
The area, near Marston Close, Whitefield, is now overgrown and attracts anti-social behaviour such as use by quad bikers.
Offenders carrying out Community Payback are to clear the site during a four-day period. It will then be maintained by community groups.
The job was recommended by residents in Whitefield who were eager to get help to restore the pitch to its former glory.
Craig Sykes, Community Payback Officer, said: "Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law, rigorously supervised and enforced by probation.
"It is also a way for offenders to make up to the community for the harm they have done.
"This particular site is an excellent example of that. It will be hard work clearing all the weeds and when it’s finished it will be a tremendous resource for Whitefield."
Councillor Joan Grimshaw, Chair of Whitefield Local Area Partnership, said: "Residents said the site had gone to wrack and ruin and it had become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
"I've seen the work of Bury's Community Payback Team and have been impressed with the level of work achieved and their ability to get things done.
"Kevin Keegan opened the pitch several years ago and once the improvements are made it will be at a standard where local community members can use this fantasitic local facility . It's not an established park but we could alter if volunteers from the local community ensure it continues to be properly maintained."
Recent Feedback from beneficiaries of Community Payback
Charity Shop Bury – Having Community Payback working here has meant i can manage the shop more usefully, we would really struggle without the extra help”
Mill House – “Thanks again to the team and yourself for the service you so professionally provided”
Ground clearance Bury - I would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for the work done by the CP scheme and all the offenders. People who have seen the teams working have really appreciated the team’s staff.”
Inspector Mark Kenny, Whitefield – “I’m delighted to sign up to Love Whitefield and naturally our trees will bloom too. Our Community groups, Community Payback and residents make a huge difference to Whitefield”
Offender – “Being on CP has taught me a lesson with regards to crime. I have enjoyed the tasks given and have learnt a lot, i will continue to do voluntary work in my own time”
War Graves - The War Graves project is an ongoing project which requires the Community Payback team to maintain the area around a number of war graves. The project is funded to help towards the running and maintenance of the tools used. A number of theses graves can be found at All Saints Church in Whitefield.
Hunters Hill - The team spent approximately 140 labour hours on the project which is now clear for the community to maintain and plan the ideal future for the area, which will include a play/family area.
Weeks of Action
Offenders have been involved with other Partner agencies including Bury Council, Police, Housing and the Fire service over the past few months in Bury.
Under the Supervision of a Community Payback Supervisor the teams have transformed a number of grot spots and helped local communities dispose of rubbish, painting and repair of garden fences, general garden maintenance and basically helping to build public confidence in what Community Payback and the Probation Service are about.
Recent week of action projects have taken place at Rainsough, Woodhill and Brandlesholme.On one of these projects 5 large skips were filled by the team.
Heaton Park Road Repairs
For everyone who visits Heaton Park they will be aware of how popular it is for the local community and people from further afield. The park attracts large events on a regular basis, which obviously takes its toll on the wear and tear of the main paths.
Community Payback became involved with the maintenance of the park and agreed to spend 2 days per week repairing the roads within. On one of the days offenders would square off the edges of the holes and the following day they would fill them with tarmac and using the correct machinery create a professional finish. Each week the groups would use around 2 tonne’s of tarmac.
This has made sure the park is a safer place for people to ride bikes, push prams and generally enjoy the environment.
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