'It's a disgrace' - Residents anger over decline of Dudley park littered 'with broken glass'

Marc Bateman, who is from Dudley, told the Express & Star that he has “many fond memories growing up in the area” and “playing at the park” but “now it’s a disgrace”.

Mr Bateman said: “There used to be lots of little activities to do on the way around, such as chin up bars, monkeys bars, balance beams, pole climbing.

“The pond near to the red park used to be well maintained and you could sit on the wooded platform area.

“The whole area was great for kids and families.”

He added: “Now it's a disgrace. From the shops nearby the red park, the horse fields are over grown unused areas now, all the trees and wooded areas are over grown, benches destroyed, the red park is littered with broken glass and broken bins.

“Only two swings and a slide remain.

“You can see that no money has been invested into any part of Sedgley Hall Farm area”.

Matt Clarke, who grew up in Sedgley but now lives in Australia, said that the area today “is an embarrassment”.

Mr Clarke said: “For someone who grew up in the area in the 1980s and early 90s the area used to be fantastic and the tennis courts, forts, ponds, fitness tracks all made for fun times out before technology took over.

“Today the place is an embarrassment.

“It’s just a sorry state of affairs that so called council officials who serve the public in the area show so little care or interest in what used to be a lovely place.”

Other residents in the area also posted on Facebook echoing the same concerns as Mr Bateman.

One resident said: “Sad to see it go to this. Its empty. About time the council did something about it!”.

Another resident added: “The 'park' is only a couple of minutes walk away for us. But sadly I have to drive somewhere to take my two toddlers to anywhere decent!”.

Jim Deakin, Director for Neighbourhoods at Dudley Council, told the Express & Star that the council agrees that Sedgley Hall Farm Park is “in need of significant investment”.

Mr Deakin said: “Sedgley Hall Farm Park is a vital space for families and children.

“We agree it is in need of significant investment. Funding for play areas, in recent times has only been available from developer contributions from Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CiL).

“Which we have not been successful in securing for this location.

“However, the Government has recently announced that a significant fund will become available for 66 local authorities to invest in play areas, and we will be actively pursuing this opportunity.

“Sedgley Hall Farm Park is amongst our top priorities for the bid.”