Islington cricket 'ban': Do local sports teams keep crime at bay?
By abi_silvester | Thursday, February 10, 2011, 16:54
Many Islington residents have expressed sadness and frustration today at the news that Islington Council is comsidering banning cricket from being played at the borough's only ground, following a dispute between the Pacific Cricket Club; an established team and one angry local objector.
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![The Pacific Cricket Club have played in Islington for 15 years [Image: Rich B-S]](http://legacymedia.localworld.co.uk/275659/Article/images/10681658/1792731.jpg)
The Pacific Cricket Club have played in Islington for 15 years [Image: Rich B-S]
It's been reported that the Town Hall had to pay out £680 to a motorist who was concerned about damage to his cars while games were taking place. In one incident his car was actually hit and damaged by a cricket ball, leading to the payout.
Since the incident it has suspended play at Wray Crescent, in Finsbury Park, where adult teams have been playing for 15 years. This news has been met with some unhappiness from residents, who appear to fall into two different camps:
Much of the unhappiness at the news inevitably centres around the common fear that Health & Safety concerns are getting out of hand, but a more pressing concern for those in the immediate area is that of personal safety. It has been claimed that the area is a "crime hotspot", and that the regular presence of cricket teams helps keep local gangs out of the area.
How do you feel about this development: do local sports teams help keep crime down and are you reassured by their presence? Or would you rather protect your car windscreen?
More information can be found here.
Comments
Thanks for the heads-up Left_armer, I'm very pleased to see the issue being taken seriously!
By abi_silvester at 16:08 on 24/02/11
ReportGood stuff, Abi. There's also a great Guardian article on Pacific being suspended from playing at Wray Crescent:
http://tinyurl.com/5rnlghn
By Left_armer at 15:25 on 24/02/11
ReportThere's a great Guardian article on the issue of Pacific Cricket Club being suspended from Wray Crescent here:
http://tinyurl.com/5rnlghn
By Left_armer at 15:23 on 24/02/11
ReportThanks Trebor, that's an interesting detail and one I wasn't aware of. Yes, your solution seems like the obvious route to take and I do hope the council sees it that way - I think it would be a terrible shame to see cricket permanently banished from the park and can't see any sensible reasons to resort to a ban. Do keep us posted!
By abi_silvester at 10:28 on 12/02/11
ReportAbi,
Thank you for raising this debate. We have really appreciated the support of many local groups and hope the council will reconsider its decision to suspend cricket at Wray Crescent in the next month before we have our first game.
Just to clarify, as far as we are aware the council insurance payout was not due to a game involving Pacific Cricket Club. As a club we hold insurance that would cover any damage to property or personal injury of a member of the public. The only incident we are aware of involving the 'local objector' was about 3 seasons ago. On that occasion Pacific Cricket Club's insurance covered the damage to his car. We believe the claim the council had to pay out was due to a match between two clubs without appropriate insurance. This issue would be solved simply by the council only allowing clubs with appropriate insurance cover to hire Wray Crescent.
We feel the insurance argument is a cover for the real issue, namely the council not wanting to continue to fund the maintenance of the pavilion and grounds.
Kind regards,
Rob Bastin
Saturday XI Captain
Pacific Cricket Club
By trebor79 at 20:55 on 11/02/11
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