Alexandra Bowling Green 'taken over by drug addicts and rough sleepers'

The Harbour Challenge Outdoor Activity Centre took on the green and the pavilion at Alexandra Park last year with the aim of providing an "old-fashioned" centre for all in Parkstone to enjoy.

Just months after leasing the property, however, Harbour Challenge has been forced to abandon it altogether - but is unable to free itself from the contract without paying £18,000.

Managing director Chris Hurlock said little help has been offered by either the police or the council, despite the fact that the green is littered with drugs paraphernalia including needles and rough sleepers have set up tents and a paddling pool on the land.

"From day one, the place was plagued with anti-social behaviour, and it's just got worse and worse," he said.

"Our tenants, Out and About Dorset, left in the September because they were so fed up with the drug users and alcoholics."

Mr Hurlock says he has attempted to arrange numerous meetings between police officers and council officials at the site, but said "nobody wants to take action".

"We've had to close the place," he said.

"It was rent-free for a year, but I've just had a bill for the first quarter's rent, which I'm refusing to pay.

"We've had absolutely no support at all from the police. They're just not interested."

Alexandra Park covers around six acres. Its green and pavilion was previously home to the Alexandra Park Lawn Bowls Club, which was established in the 1920s.

Harbour Challenge, which hosts residential trips for schools and youth groups in Dorset and Devon, hoped to eventually provide a range of services at the site, including birthday parties, a nursery and fitness classes.

Mr Hurlock said: "This is a very successful charity, but if we've got to pay £18,000, that'll have a massive impact on us.

"No one from the police seems interested in helping us get these people off the site. It's been an absolute nightmare."

Sergeant Jane Moore, of Poole Neighbourhood Policing Team, said she was aware of issues with rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour in the park.

"We do patrols as often as we can and work closely with Poole council as there is a public space protection order in that area," she said.

A spokesperson from Poole council said: "Harbour Challenge has a lease to manage the Pavilion facility within Alexandra Park. The site has been suffering from a recent increase in anti-social behaviour.

"Borough of Poole and Harbour Challenge are working closely together to undertake a series of improvements to the facility which we hope will resolve the situation and enable activity to resume on site."