Young offenders have been roped in to help clean up a New Malden children’s play area after complaints about litter, writes Nikita Jadav.

Blagdon Road Open Space has been on the receiving end of criticism from residents who have spotted copious and “unacceptable” amounts of rubbish appearing there. 

Some have also suggested the litter in the park could be potentially harmful to young children.

Offenders will be deployed on October 5 to thoroughly clean up the park as part of the community payback scheme.

New Malden resident Robert Hyland said: “The children's play area behind the Malden centre in New Malden is in a terrible state.

“There are cigarette butts, metal beer bottle tops, sweet wrappers and just general rubbish scattered all over the place in high volumes.

“Why do we pay our council tax? Because it certainly doesn't look like it’s for a cleaner environment.”

Kingston Council launched a poster campaign this month to target general littering, cigarette butts, chewing gum, dog fouling and urination in the streets of the borough.

Surrey Comet:  The council's poster campaign against littering, dog fouling and public urination

Beverly ward councillor Terry Paton, portfolio holder for resident services, said: "Although the bins are emptied and general rubbish is picked up on a daily basis, Blagdon Road Open Space, is used as a cut through by hundreds of people and is in need of a deep clean.

“To this end, we are going to deploy young offenders from the community payback scheme to thoroughly clean up the area for everyone to enjoy.”