A MUM-of-four has slammed her nightmare neighbours for calling the cops on her kids for playing outside.
Stacey Cope was baffled when she was slapped with a letter telling her children to stop kicking a ball about on their Hull street.
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The warning was handed to the fuming mum, who lives on Parkfield Drive in Spring Bank West, by Places for People officials, who told her games had been banned after a disgruntled neighbour complained.
Stacey told Hull Live: “Not one of the children on this street has ever damaged anything, whether it be a window, fence or car.
“That’s why I was surprised when someone from Places for People and two police officers knocked at our door on Monday.
“They handed us a letter and warned us that ball games would be banned in the street, after a neighbour had complained.”
The letter described the sound of ball games in the street and fences being hit as a “nuisance” to others.
But Stacey claimed none of the kids have ever intentionally kicked a ball at privacy fence or been out at inappropriate times.
Yet a Places for People spokesperson wrote there were “a number of complaints” filed.
“The complaints received are about children playing football in the road. This includes kicking the ball against a fence and into gardens,” the letter read.
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“The ball has been hitting residents’ garden fences, windows and the continuous noise of the ball being bounced is causing a nuisance.”
Officials added that whilst children should be able to enjoy the outdoors, they have to treat property with respect.
A Places for People spokesperson later told Hull Live: “We work to create, and support thriving communities.
“In accordance with police advice, any balls games that are played persistently and deliberately leading to damage or nuisance can be classified as anti-social behaviour.”
But Stacey and other parents in the cul-de-sac aren’t happy with the warning – and claimed sending kids to the park instead could risk their safety.
“The majority of the children are under 10 years old and there is no way that we would feel comfortable sending them off to a playing field where we can’t watch them,” she added.
The concerned mum-of-four spoke of anti-social behaviour plaguing the local park and felt it “isn’t safe for little ones”.
Another fuming neighbour, Katie, said: “My youngest is six and I feel much better having him play with other kids in front of our house.
“If the balls were to hit any cars or windows, it would be mine due to where my house is but I’ve never had a single issue.
“Would people rather we just buy another device to shove in front of the kids faces for entertainment?”
Katie claimed she has never received a single compliant from neighbours about the level of noise being made by her kids.
“I can’t believe someone has called the police out over kids having fun,” she added.
Meanwhile, an anonymous resident praised the street and the freedom little ones used to have to play freely “without any worries about the traffic”.
They explained parents on Parkfield Drive always “keep and eye out” and make sure kids stay “out of trouble”.
Plus, another local echoed worries that if ball games are banned, children will have to play further afield.
“Then they might get into actual trouble,” said the man.
The dreaded ‘No Ball Games’ sign is set to go up soon and the kids are very upset, according to Stacey.
“Our youngest was born in lockdown and safe interaction with other kids is invaluable to her,” she said.
“I feel so much better about her starting nursery knowing that she’s used to playing with other children. The pandemic took that away from her in the beginning so it’s important she gets it now,” she added.
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