Parents and councillors are calling on police to save a park from being ruined by yobs and drug dealers.

Rosebery Road Recreation Ground in Chatham has become a no-go zone for residents after dark, and those using the park in the day have become extra vigilant in case drugs paraphernalia is left lying around.

A recent spate of drug dealing has sparked fears the area is fast becoming a crime hot spot, but residents are fighting back – and calls to a police hotline have led to recent arrests.

But families and local politicians believe more needs to be done to protect the park and its play area, which has been repeatedly vandalised in recent years.

“In the evening you wouldn’t want to walk through there,” said mum of two Marina Wilson. “

Because it’s quite tucked away they feel they can carry on with impunity.
“It would be a pity seeing it taken over by drug dealers.”

Rochester South and Horsted Councillor Rupert Turpin said increased patrols had led to arrests being made, and he was hopeful the situation could be controlled.

“It’s a bit of an issue,” he said. “We asked for special help from police, and they said if you give us a ring when you see something we’ll get over as quickly as we can, rather than ring 101.

“You need that rapid response in order to catch them in the act.”

He believed police had chased two men into an alleyway on September 15, and found them in possession of powder, which was now being analysed.

“It’s always a source of frustration that you see people dealing drugs, but by the time you ring up the response isn’t quick enough,” added Cllr Turpin.

“The drug dealers know that. They do quick deals and disperse.It’s still going on. I saw some people just yesterday down an alleyway looking very suspicious.”

Mum of five Rachel Elphick, 38, takes her two youngest, two-year-old Harrison, and Ellie, three, to the park twice a week.

“Everyone is worried about it and doesn’t like the fact it’s going on. It’s disgusting really when there’s two or three-year-olds playing there.

“I haven’t seen or heard any drug dealing. We just go there during the day, but we are aware of the vandalism. The bench and the trampoline were burnt down. There’s always fag butts and beer bottles. It’s a bit grotty.

“But it’s so close to us it’s nice to have somewhere to take the kids. It’s a shame it’s being a little bit ruined. It’s not like we can see drug dealing going on though because I think that would happen in the evening.

“When I get there I have a look around and pick up cans and rubbish before my children start playing.”

Marina Wilson, 43, lives next to the park, and her children, Mia,10 and Elliot, eight, play there regularly.

“What concerns me and other mums is if there was drug paraphernalia or needles around – that would be a worry,” she said.

“If you’re in the park and looking at the ground you keep one eye out for anything suspicious.

“It would be a pity seeing it taken over by drug dealers. One mum saw some teenagers dealing drugs in the corner of the park. Because it’s quite tucked away they feel they can carry on with impunity, because the police aren’t a physical presence.

“It’s a shame because it’s a nice little park and it cost the council quite a lot.”

Cllr Turpin said workmen had reported being offered drugs by random strangers while they were working, adding: “There’s quite a bit of concern that it’s got to that level.”

"If you’re in the park and looking at the ground you keep one eye out for anything suspicious" - Marina Wilson

The park has previously been subject to repeat vandalism attacks – and was most recently targeted in July this year when yobs set fire to a bench.

Council officials were forced to padlock the gate in June 2014 after vandals ripped up the soft play surfacing, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

Medway Urban Parks and Green Spaces team repaired the park but just two weeks later, the padlock was back on after a trampoline was set alight.

Parents and councillors called for CCTV to prevent further vandalism but this would have cost £10,000. Medway Council spent more than £60,000 on the playground which is popular with children from nearby Balfour Infant and Junior Schools.