Fireworks and bus vandalism terrifying Ravenscliffe residents and keeping buses away

YOUNG bus vandals who caused a service to stop running in an estate are also said to throw fireworks at a children's play park and terrify some residents.

First West Yorkshire announced last Thursday that its 645 bus service, which runs through Ravenscliffe in Bradford, would no longer go through the estate due to vandalism.

But it is not only trouble on the buses that is blighting the estate.

One young mum claims the yobs - who she said are aged between seven and 15  - engage in seriously dangerous anti-social behaviour too.

Toni Rice, 27, has been back and forth on the Ravenscliffe estate since she was 14.

Mrs Rice said: “They set fireworks and lob it into the play park where kids are.

“My little one goes on the big swing in there and they are throwing fireworks.”

The play park, just off Rimswell Holt, is the main meeting point for the big group of youths, according to Mrs Rice.

It is where much of the trouble with the buses begins, at the stop on the corner of Redcar Road and Rimswell Holt.

Mrs Rice claims the yobs throw toffee apple hammers and stones at the 645 bus, as it comes near the play park on its approach to the stop.

She said: "I don’t tend to walk past that little section when there’s kids and a bus, because you might get caught in the crossfire or hurt.”

Mrs Rice added: “They cause a lot of issues, you can imagine why drivers don’t come through here.

“Sometimes they get on the buses.

“They don’t tend to pick up when a group kids are there."

The 645 bus service is vital for Mrs Rice, as she uses it to get to her job, working for the Government.

First revealed last week the estate boycott was due to a group of youths throwing snowballs - which may have had stones in them - that resulted in one of its vehicle window's being smashed.

Initially, the company announced the service would not go through the estate until further notice, operating via Harrogate Road in both directions instead.

But the 645 was back running through Ravenscliffe last Friday.

Another disgruntled resident, Pat Gowland, said: “It’s problematic when they take it away from people that really need it, especially women with kids and older people.”

Mrs Gowland originally comes from Idle but has lived in the Ravenscliffe estate for six years after returning from a 35-year stint in America.

She said the yobs in the area are a nuisance and are “terrible”, especially in the summer.

She added: “What they do, they come in droves, and they’ll stand on this corner just like to aggravate, they come all round everywhere.

“It comes in waves, especially in summer. The buggers stay in when it’s cold.

“They throw stuff over here, bottles and stuff.”

Mrs Gowland was forced to put a fence around her front garden to stop troublesome youngsters from causing issues.

She admits the youths do not faze her, but can see why others might be concerned.

She said: “They don’t scare me, but I think some people are terrified of them.

“We put a fence up because they were in here.”

Mrs Gowland has also questioned those who are supposed to be responsible for the young children and teenagers.

She said: “I think the parents say ‘f**k off’ and let them go and play, I think it’s their fault too.”

But is this a Ravenscliffe problem, or are these yobs coming in from elsewhere to wreak havoc?

A young male resident, who did not wish to be named, described the whole ordeal as "shocking", but is adamant the issue stems from other areas.

The male, who would take the bus when he used to go to college, said: “It’s kids from other estates coming here.

“They’ve ruined it for people round here.”

Mrs Gowland claims the yobs come over from neighbouring estate, Thorpe Edge, while Mrs Rice believes it is a mix of kids from both estates who meet in the middle.

One female resident, who wished to remain anonymous, has not experienced any trouble in the area though, since moving there last September.

She said: “You see the odd kid going down the street, but no, nothing.

“I think it was the same with the swimming pool (Eccleshill Pool & Gym).

“I live right next to it and I’ve never seen anything.”