‘OUT OF CONTROL’ arson attacks at a problematic Lundwood park have been stamped out following a three-month police-led project.
More than 60 incidents were reported on the playing field on Littleworth Lane last year, with alarming figures revealing that 19 more rubbish fires were dealt with in January alone.
A three-month scheme got underway in February which saw Royston-based PCSO Jonathan Bentley work with officers from Barnsley Council, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
PCSO Bentley contacted local schools to provide educational workshops on the dangers of fires, as well as businesses.
“The fires were not only dangerous but also harmful to the environment and posed a risk to wildlife in the area, which is why it was key that we worked with partner agencies to tackle it,” he said.
“We began by working with the Lundwood community and local businesses, in order to reduce opportunities for people to start fires, by organising community clean-ups and improving business waste management policies.
“Alongside officers from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, we also went into local schools to give educational talks to pupils, talking about the risk of fires as well as all kinds of antisocial behaviour.
“The response we received from members of the community, parents and pupils was fantastic and they were all really supportive of the work we were doing.”
Nine youngsters who were involved in antisocial behaviour relating to the fires were identified, and all were issued with antisocial behaviour warnings.
According to the police and fire service, there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of fires in the area, while PCSO Bentley was awarded a good work minute by Supt Sarah Poolman for his problem-solving approach.
He added: “Through partnership working I’m pleased we have successfully been able to tackle antisocial behaviour in the area.
“Of course, our work to tackle the issues that matter most to the local community continue and we’ve still got litter-picks underway and signs have been placed at locations throughout Lundwood, ahead of CCTV being installed.
“I’d always encourage anyone with concerns to get in touch with us, either via 101 or come and speak to us when we’re out and about.”
Simon Brookes, community safety manager for the fire service, said: “It’s been a constant source of irritation for nearby residents in the last year. Incidents such as these divert our resources when they could be needed at genuine life-threatening emergencies.
“It was getting beyond a joke as it wasted precious time - we went through a stage of receiving one report a day about a fire in that area so it was a problem which was out of control.
“Predominantly it was in the same location - the playing fields - and it was school-age children who were responsible.”
Pete Wall, from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, who has also worked on turning the park’s fortunes around, praised the project’s success.
“The site has received a lot of work in order to tackle what has been going on,” he said. “We’ve been removing rubbish from the park and we must have collected 200 bags to this point as it tidies its appearance and obviously can’t be burnt if it’s not there.
“The park is really important for local wildlife and it truly is an asset for the community and I applaud the work that’s been done there.”
