Call for revamp at South Shields play park

Residents are unhappy on St Marks Play Area condition at Bedford Avenue, Laygate. Ali Hayder with wife Rahima Yesmin and local younster Emelia Graham, 4

A children’s park on a South Tyneside estate has been branded ‘not fit for purpose’ and ‘dangerous’ by a resident calling for council chiefs to revamp the area for youngsters.

Ali Hayder says St Mark’s Park in Laygate, South Shields, could be an asset for young people living on the estate as a place they could go to enjoy their school holidays.

But ahe claims that, after years of use, the area needs a revamp to make it more attractive to families and fit for purpose.

Residents are unhappy on St Marks Play Area condition at Bedford Avenue, Laygate. Ali Hayder

Mr Hayder from nearby Bedford Avenue, said: “There are no facilities for young people on the estate. We have lots of young people who live in the area but they have no where to play.

“The park hasn’t been touched in years and needs to be revamped as it is not fit for purpose, dirty and dangerous.

“We have the summer holidays coming up, it would be great for them to have a decent play park to play in.”

Emelia Graham, four, who was in the park with her parents said: “It’s not very good. It will be good if we had a bigger slides and more swings.”