Walton residents call for improvements to ABC Park

Residents are calling for improvements to a Stone park so football matches can take place and youngsters can play closer to home.

Concerns have been raised in recent years about the state of play equipment at ABC Park, also known as Walton Playing Fields, on Whitemill Lane.

Walton residents are hoping to get a maintenance arrangement in place on the playing fields to encourage use by footballers. They are calling for assistance from the trustees of Walton Community Centre, which owns the land, and Stafford Borough Council, which leases it.

The Friends of ABC Park group is holding a meeting at the Walton Community Centre classroom on Thursday 21 May at 7pm. Items for discussion include park improvements, ideas and funding opportunities.

Last month, a community assembly was held at the park for residents to meet with community centre trustees. There was also a litter pick.

Resident Hannah Banks said

“There is an amazing spirit in Walton. It is about raising awareness of things, the more people that are asking for change, the more likely it is to happen.

“Children have to go through the subway under the A34 or over to Udall Grange to play when they have something on their doorstop which is available. We’re trying to have a discussion with the community centre and the council to see if somebody will take ownership and help us.”

Rich Draper said

“We want to get football clubs on this pitch. But we cannot do it because we don’t have permission from the council or community centre.”

Councillor Jill Hood, who represents Walton on the town, borough and county authorities, was one of the attendees at the community assembly.

She told residents

“This has been going on for a number of years.

“Two years ago I started the ball rolling for fundraising for ABC Park. Stafford Borough Council maintain this field free of charge, they cut the grass and put the goalposts up.

“It will take up to £90,000 to repair things, get a couple of benches and bins in. We have to work together, we need to be able to use this every day.”

Community centre trustee and secretary Gerald Canning told the meeting

“The situation is the community centre owns the park and it is leased in a legal document to Stafford Borough Council. As the owner we have no right, the lessee has the right to use it.

“In terms of its usage, we are happy to see it being used. But we do not have the authority to grant permission.

“We’re in a difficult position, we want to see the field used as a community field. We don’t want to be involved in day to day organisation and running of it and we don’t have any money, we operate the community centre on the basis we break even just about.”