Well, clearly I cannot comment on that particular situation because I don't know the location or the facts - but I do know for a fact that playing football in the street is a major cause of complaint. Apart from the constant noise - shouting and the continuous thump, thump, thump of the bloody ball, there is the risk of damage to property. If footballs go into gardens then flowers are broken, if they hit cars - then paintwork is scratched. If they hit parked caravans then even more damage can result. There is a huge dent on the side of my caravan where a kid playing tennis in the street let go of her racket and it hit the 'van. Now I don't know about this 'pad of concrete' you refer to - but to play football on it must have been a big pad! Were there no parks or recreation grounds nearby that would have been more suitable for football playing?
Well, again, I didn't see the programme and so cannot comment but was this a once only incident - or do kids regularly gather there? Some unfortunate people who live on street corners have gangs of kids sitting on their garden walls night after night. They suffer constant noise, foul language, litter dumped in their gardens, etc.
When my two kids were growing up I controlled them. I made sure they didn't behave in a manner that was inconsiderate to neighbours or anyone else. That is what I would expect from all parents - but it is an increasing rarity. Many parents today just cannot give a damn what their kids are up to - so long as they are not under their feet.
Kev
