Pebsham youngsters want new goalposts

They were helped by Jeannie Prince, of Pebsham Community Voice, and Councillor Charlie Clark, who have promised to help campaign for better facilities in the play area.

Jeannie said: "We haven't really got anything in Pebsham for children and especially for the teenage group, and this is a forgotten little place in that area."

"We thought - let's get a move on, let's get something done."

She says the council land has been unused for years and has just one frame left where once there were two goal posts.

Rother District Council has already responded to their request to mow the grass on the field and has promised this will be now be done more regularly, and sports development officer Adrian Gaylon is looking at providing new goalposts for the field.

Jeannie said: "It has got to be designated as an official play area first and then we can push for a small play park.

"There is not a lot to do up here. Pebsham has had a bit of a bad press...I love living here, but I know when I was a teenager myself there was nothing here to do. I just feel strongly that we need to get some things done. There are activities in the summer and a couple of trips available for youngsters in the 11-19 age group, but from speaking to them I know they are asking for new goal posts, that is what they have requested."

"I said to them you don't get anything for free in this life - you have to work yourselves if you want things, but they were eager to help so that was quite refreshing."

Jeannie, who lives on Seabourne Road, has four children herself, two of them in their teens.

She said: "The summer holiday is probably prime time for teenagers getting into trouble, really through boredom. We thought that if we start now and get activities going for them then hopefully we will keep the anti-social behaviour down.

"We hope to make a start and build from there."

Cllr Clark said that following the Pebsham Action Plan meeting, local residents and young people had raised the issue of the lack of facilities in the field, and in the area in general, and added: "We hope to engage more with young people, preventing anti-social behaviour and providing more funding and activities for the youth of Pebsham."