Photos show shocking impact of anti-social behaviour at Chesterfield park

The state of Damon Drive Rec has become so bad at times that park users have good reason to fear possible harm to children and dogs, and consider it a blight on the community.

Echoing concerns shared by residents in online forums, one told the Derbyshire Times: “There are bottles, needles, used foil, beer cans and all sorts of rubbish strewn around play area – even a TV and a moped. It’s a hazard, it’s shocking.

“I’ve contacted Chesterfield Borough Council easily more than a dozen times over last year about this park being used as a meeting place for drinking and drug taking. I reported it again on Friday morning but I doubt anything will be done. They ought to have a regular cleaning up day here.”

In 2023, Damon Drive was announced as one of 18 youth and play spaces due to share in £1.32million of investment over the next five years, as part of a strategy to double the number of parks receiving Green Flag quality status.

At the time, the cabinet member responsible, Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, said: “It’s our aim to create a variety of sustainable spaces that provide people of all ages and abilities with accessible, quality, and fun opportunities for play.

“We are really proud to provide good quality parks and play spaces in our community, and this investment will help us to continue to achieve this.”

After the Derbyshire Times photographed the scene on Monday, January 8, Councillor Jonathan Davies, responded has the borough’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing.

He said: “We are aware of current issues at Damon Drive Recreation Ground, and we are working to tackle these.

“Our teams regularly maintain the park and remove litter. But given the issues currently being experienced, we are introducing further measures to address anti-social behaviour on the site.”

He added: “We work closely with the police and our partners, and use our extensive CCTV network, to identify individuals who commit anti-social behaviour. We take action against those individuals, and we escalate issues to the police when necessary.

“We ask people to report issues, including litter and anti-social behaviour, directly to us. This helps us know where problems are arising so we can act to ensure communities are safe and public spaces are clean.”