Residents in two Highfields streets have joined forces to turn a yob-plagued playground into an open space for everyone to enjoy.
The play area behind Matthews Road became a no-go area for residents, with needles and broken glass littering the ground and boozing and anti-social behaviour causing regular problems.
But Matthews Road and Norfolk Way residents are now working together to give the land a new lease of life. Ideas include creating a conservation and wildlife habitat.
They have just formed their own residents’ association and held their first informal event, a community barbecue and raffle, two weeks ago.
The gathering also gave residents of all ages the chance to find out more about the ideas for the land and celebrate a £1,000 windfall from the Staffordshire Cares Community Wellbeing Fund.
The group hopes to lease and develop the land behind Matthews Road, which is currently in the ownership of Stafford Borough Council, and have applied to the Big Lottery for further funding.
Association chairman John Lukanik said: “We have some good ideas of what we would like to do with the land. We want to put a pond and plant some trees and we have an artist from Cannock who is going to do something for us.
“We have done some drawings of what we want to do with the land.
The children can get involved too and it will improve the whole area.
“A playground was built there several years ago but we constantly had issues with broken glass, needles, drinking and antisocial behaviour.
“It seems to have quietened down now and if we do something with the area it will encourage younger and older people to go there and enjoy it rather than be frightened of it.”
