Rallying call for people to have their say on the state of Hartlepool's Rossmere Park

Entrance to Rossmere Park. Image copyright Google Maps.

The meeting has been organised by the Friends of Rossmere Park who say they have been left ‘fed up’ by the state of the public space.

The group raised ongoing issues with litter, anti-social behaviour, maintenance and failure to keep the park clean and tidy.

In response to the problems, the group has organised a meeting with ward councillors and a council officer tomorrow at 9.30am, who will speak to residents over the issues.

The group is urging people who are unhappy with the state of the facility to come along.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Tony Richardson, 65, who lives on Banff Grove - just yards away from the park - said he is angry that the park has been left in such a state and wants something to be done.

He approached the council to see if they could meet with residents.

He said: “The park is a disgrace. “There is litter, the life-saving rings on the park have been thrown in or burnt out by anti-social behaviour.

“I feel like we are fighting to get things done.

“This has been going on since 2012.”

Mr Richardson said he is yet to see funding go into the upkeep of the park and has even painted the park benches himself in a bid to keep it smart.

He said he has attended numerous ward and community forum meetings to raise the problems with council officials, but without any changes being implemented.

He hopes Friday’s meeting will allow residents to raise the ongoing issues in the park with the council so that something can be done.

He added: “A lot of older people are frightened to go in the park because of the anti-social behaviour.

“It’s a disgrace.”

A Hartlepool Borough Council spokesman said: “We won’t tolerate anti-social behaviour in Rossmere Park.

“As a result of concerns raised by members of the public at the South and Central Community Forum, council officers and ward councillors will be visiting the park this Friday to talk to local people and investigate the issues and find the best ways of tackling them.”