'FOUL-MOUTHED YOUTHS DRIVING KIDS FROM PARK'
DROMORE mums are steering clear of the town's playpark with their kids thanks to a crowd of foul-mouthed teens gathering there every night.
That's according to one local woman, who says that apart from the youths themselves the playpark is daily deserted by late afternoon despite the drawn-out summer evenings.
"The mothers in Dromore are avoiding Dromore Playpark," she said, "due to the young teenagers hanging around at night on the playpark and talking crudely and obscenely about sexual practices in front of the wee kids.
"As a result, none of us go anymore; they are there every night and it has become a huge problem within the town."
The concerned parent, who did not want to be named, fears that as the teenagers are not drinking or engaged in other criminal or anti-social behaviour, police are powerless to act.
As a result, she is appealing directly to local teenagers' parents to keep the youths away from the playpark.
"I would like to urge parents to keep their teenagers away from the playpark as it ruining the fun for young ones," she said. "The summer is nearly gone and the playpark is empty from 4pm on, as parents are intimidated by the 15-strong crowd sitting on the swings and slides etc.
"This has been going on for months and it needs to be stopped."
In the meantime the frustrated mum has raised the issue with Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who is now calling on the local council to facilitate a meeting to address the problem.
Dromore Councillor Paul Rankin said this week that in common with other local councillors he had received a letter from Mr. Donaldson, seeking a meeting between the council and other relevant parties to discuss the problems of vandalism, anti-social or otherwise inappropriate behaviour in the park and how to bring them to an end.
"I certainly support that and hope that the meeting goes ahead soon," said Mr. Rankin.
Only last week The Leader reported that the council was debating what to do about the park's persistently vandalised public toilets, now closed to all but select groups and individuals, while a portable toilet has been installed for general use.
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
