Softer skills for Chorley street footballers (From Chorley Citizen)

Softer skills for Chorley street footballers

10:55am Monday 22nd June 2009 in

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Complaints about children playing football and upsetting the neighbours may become a thing of the past thanks to a new foam ball initiative.

Chorley Community Housing is to provide foam footballs for youngsters in a bid to reduce the number of neighbour complaints caused by children playing outside. The footballs, which are softer, lighter, plastic coated and should reduce noise and damage to properties or cars, are being distributed by CCH staff.

The way of addressing anti-social behaviour has been launched in response to residents’ concerns about children playing in the street with traditional footballs and hitting houses, vehicles and fencing. Using the foam footballs, youngsters will still be able to play football without causing inconvenience to their neighbours.

Anna Schickhoff-Brown, senior anti-social behaviour officer for CCH, said: “We want children to be able to play out in the street without causing any inconvenience to people living there. “Residents have said they’re worried about balls hitting their cars or damaging their windows and fences. “We’ve listened to their concerns and came up with these lighter balls as a solution.”

The foam footballs are part of CCH’s quality streets initiative, which is designed to improve the standard of its estates and increase residents satisfaction and pride in the areas in which they live.