Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'WILTS GAZETTE' to 80360 or email »
Your opinion counts so tell us what you think about our stories. Add your comment below each story or e-mail the editor by clicking here.
8:42am Monday 25th February 2008
A CALNE couple who say their neighbourhood is being terrorised by teenagers believe moving house may be their only option.
Sandra and David Jackson, who live in Belstaff Court, off Newcroft Gardens, said a toddlers' play area is being abused by local youths who sit on the swings, swear and engage in anti-social behaviour.
Mrs Jackson, 61, said: "The area only opened properly in December, we knew it was going to be here when we bought the house.
"But we thought it would be more of a green area and we now realise that it will never be used in the way it was designed, for children and their parents."
Mrs Jackson said youths ranging from 12 to 16 years old ride their bikes up and down the slide and have even poured petrol over a neighbour's front door.
She said the play area is so close to some of the homes that people feel as if their space is being intruded upon.
She said: "My husband is on medication and he just doesn't need this.
"I have spoken to the kids and suggested that maybe they should move on but I haven't confronted them.
"I wouldn't because you never know what will happen."
The couple bought the home to spend their retirement in two years ago, and often have their five-year-old granddaughter to stay.
Mrs Jackson said: "She won't go outside on her own to the play area after 4pm as that's when all the youths come down and gather there.
"When they stand up on the slide they can see right into our living room window and they make obscene gestures.
"That's the last thing you want your young grandchild to see."
Mr Jackson told his wife their only option might be moving from the area, as the couple believe things can only get worse as the summer approaches.
They have contacted police but said officers were treating it as a low priority.
Mrs Jackson said: "A lot of our neighbours feel the same way as us.
"They are feeling scared about going out because they don't want to be confronted by this gang of young people."
Inspector Gavin Williams said: "From my point of view we take any complaints of anti-social behaviour very seriously and we have already taken a number of positive steps which have had an impact in the area.
"I will be administering a member of the neighbourhood policing team to investigate these problems."
kathy27, calne says...
9:35am Wed 27 Feb 08
mE, calne says...
11:27am Wed 27 Feb 08
Grumpy, Swindon says...
3:17am Fri 29 Feb 08
spooks wrote:It's not only around the town they are causing problems. Just look at the dreadful discipline at the John bentley School and you'll see where a lot of the problems stem from - ask some of the teachers there and hear what they have got to say! Despite what reports have said it's not all sweetness and light at the school.
whats the point of moving them on.they will create trouble else where. calne does have a problem with kids running amock. and it is time that the council and the police sort it out. and the parents of the kids should be ashamed of there selfs. www.calnetalk.com
Brian Heath, Calne says...
1:56pm Fri 29 Feb 08
The Maxter, Chippenham says...
2:20pm Fri 29 Feb 08
spooks, calne says...
2:25pm Fri 29 Feb 08
xcalneresident, berkshire says...
9:42pm Fri 29 Feb 08
oap67, calne says...
2:11pm Sat 1 Mar 08
kathy27, calne says...
8:28pm Sat 1 Mar 08
kathy27, calne says...
8:29pm Sat 1 Mar 08
TC, Town Centre, Chippenham says...
2:37pm Sun 2 Mar 08
xcalneresident wrote:That is one of the best singular comments I've ever read on this site. The Dog Borstal ref is so true (Dog Whisperer is even more accurate too). Good post.
Unfortunately Calne is on par with the back side of the earth. The majority of the schools, primary and secondary are poor or failing. The discipline at John Bentley is non existant. I made a complaint to the school regarding my 8 year old son having a bottle thrown at him in the "town" centre by some revolting group of ferel inbred "girls" when we lived there (i was present) and the school couldnt even be bothered to call me back!! The problem with Calne and many other places in the UK is that the neither the schools, parents or police are interested. The police cant be bothered to write up incidents so it is easier to pretend they are not happening than to actually get off their arses and do something. The school have so many kids there with major behavioual problems who belong to parents that couldnt care less that they are fighting a losing battle and the parents have given up all authority to their kids because they are scared of them. They have had a childhood of too many choices and being in control (we all know this makes for unhappy unruly children)and have now grown into unhappy, uncontrollable teenagers. If you watch "Dog Borstal" the principles are all the same, kids, as dogs need to understand pecking order and who makes the rules in order to behave. We left Calne partly due the fact that i couldnt bare to send my kids to John Bentley and I could no longer stand to witness the violent, aggresive and downright ferel behaviour that prevailled in the playground at Fynamore School. Unfortunately I am talking about the parents here - so what hope have the kids got?
smiley, calne says...
5:05pm Mon 3 Mar 08
Grumpy, Swindon says...
9:21am Wed 5 Mar 08
smiley wrote:The report was about Calne, not Swindon, which is why I made references to the John Bentley School, because that is relevant to Calne. Had the article been about Swindon youths, then I may have made references regarding Swindon school's.
Im sorry 'Grumpy' from Swindon but before you start on schools in Calne you need to take a good look at the schools in your own town, so John Bentley might have some tear aways but multiply that 100 and you have a typical Swindon school. As for the school being responsible for kids when they are out and about is absolute rubbish, where are their parents?!
xcalneresident, berkshire says...
11:33pm Fri 7 Mar 08
TC wrote:Thank you very much, at last someone agrees with me!!!
xcalneresident wrote: Unfortunately Calne is on par with the back side of the earth. The majority of the schools, primary and secondary are poor or failing. The discipline at John Bentley is non existant. I made a complaint to the school regarding my 8 year old son having a bottle thrown at him in the "town" centre by some revolting group of ferel inbred "girls" when we lived there (i was present) and the school couldnt even be bothered to call me back!! The problem with Calne and many other places in the UK is that the neither the schools, parents or police are interested. The police cant be bothered to write up incidents so it is easier to pretend they are not happening than to actually get off their arses and do something. The school have so many kids there with major behavioual problems who belong to parents that couldnt care less that they are fighting a losing battle and the parents have given up all authority to their kids because they are scared of them. They have had a childhood of too many choices and being in control (we all know this makes for unhappy unruly children)and have now grown into unhappy, uncontrollable teenagers. If you watch "Dog Borstal" the principles are all the same, kids, as dogs need to understand pecking order and who makes the rules in order to behave. We left Calne partly due the fact that i couldnt bare to send my kids to John Bentley and I could no longer stand to witness the violent, aggresive and downright ferel behaviour that prevailled in the playground at Fynamore School. Unfortunately I am talking about the parents here - so what hope have the kids got?That is one of the best singular comments I've ever read on this site. The Dog Borstal ref is so true (Dog Whisperer is even more accurate too). Good post.
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Find your next job now in Wiltshire and beyond
Search Now »
Make a date in Wiltshire now!
Search Now »
Wiltshire properties for sale and to let
Search Now »
Cars for sale in and around Wiltshire
Search Now »
spooks, calne says...
9:02am Mon 25 Feb 08
calne does have a problem with kids running amock.
and it is time that the council and the police sort it out.
and the parents of the kids should be ashamed of there selfs.
www.calnetalk.com