A REBOUND wall installed in a park two years ago has been moved at a cost of nearly £2,000.

The wall, which serves as a goal and a wicket for a small all-weather pitch, was originally installed in March 2010 as part of a £60,000 investment in new play equipment at Alexandra Park, Parkstone.

At the time, the development, funded by the government’s Playbuilder scheme, caused controversy in the neighbourhood, with some residents claiming the council had not carried out a thorough consultation.

After a public meeting, the council agreed to make changes, including altering the planned orientation of the rebound wall to minimise potential disruption to local householders.

The wall was installed towards a path separating the multi-use games area from trees behind the back gardens of houses in Palmerston Road.

But a few days ago the area was fenced off and a notice put up to say it would be closed for two weeks while workers relocated the rebound wall.

A spokeswoman for the Borough of Poole said the work, which is costing £1,940, was being carried out in response to “public demand” and would change the direction of play away from the properties, reducing the number of balls going over fences and cutting disturbance to residents.

One resident, Sue Hockey explained: “Everybody that backs on to the park has had lots of balls coming into their gardens. One had her fence broken with lads climbing over to get their balls back. We had four balls coming into our garden in an afternoon.

“We were all against them putting in the wall anyway. The problem was they had already ordered it. For years, children put sweaters down for goalposts, but they played further up in the park.”