POLICE have been asked to investigate clear breaches of social-distancing rules involving youths gathering on Woolston Park by concerned local residents.
On Monday evening this week a member of the public reported a group of around 15 young people, some with pushbikes, congregating on Woolston Park and apparently playing ball games, to Warrington Police, local councillors and Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols.
A photograph of the group has been passed to the Police to enable identification.
A similar incident involving a group of around 30 youths took place last Wednesday (May 20) on Woolston Park was reported by another member of the public to Police last week.
In another incident on Tuesday, May 26 at 18:40 another member of the public reported a group of four young women, who looked unlikely to be from one household, get out of a car on Weir Lane and walk off towards the river. Again this has been reported, with supporting photos, to Warrington Police and a local councillor, in what appears to be another case of a breach of social distancing.
Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols said: “We are at a really crucial point as we start to make the first tentative steps towards resuming some semblance of normality, but the risk has not gone away- people are still contracting the virus and dying every single day. Now is not the time for complacency, and I would urge everyone in our community to practice the social distancing rules that are there to protect us all and to set the example for others, as the vast majority have done throughout this crisis. Many of the complaints I have had relate to teenagers congregating in large groups, so I’d urge parents to ensure they are having the conversation with their children about continuing to social distancing responsibly, and will continue to support Cheshire Police in dispersing groups and issuing penalties as appropriate where social distancing rules are being breached to ensure the law is upheld.
Chris Vobe, the Labour Party candidate for Rixton and Woolston at next year’s local elections, added: “We have had reports from residents of groups of people congregating in the park locally, without observing the necessary social distancing measures. This is concerning, because it is really important that the hard work and sacrifices we have all made over the past weeks are not undermined at this critical stage.
“Separately, we have also had reports of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour at the same location.
“Andrew Hill, Pat Wright and I are liaising with the local police, and the Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane, on these issues. We are hopeful that we can facilitate a swift response from the police and put an end to any behaviour which places members of our community at risk.”
