Girls as young as 11 in regular fights near secondary school, meeting told
SECONDARY school pupils as young as 11 have been blamed for a wave of anti-social behaviour - including regular street fights - on a road in Hoyland.
Residents have catalogued problems, including stones thrown at cars, pupils entering gardens, damaging property and leaving some reluctant to come and go from their properties in West Street, Hoyland.
They blame Kirk Balk Academy pupils, with problems, happening around a location out of sight from the area patrolled by school staff at the end of the day.
A bus shelter iwas highlighted as a gathering point and, according to residents, much of the fighting was among female pupils, including those in year seven, meaning some were in the 11 years old age bracket.
Residents and Cllr Andy Wray have been in contact with the school over the problems, with one resident telling the meeting: “I have had property damaged, where they have climbed on the gates.
“I have had stones thrown at my car, I cannot get off my drive from 2.40 until 3.10; they run around my car, it is really bad.
“Lately, it is year seven girls, who have just gone up to Kirk Balk.”
Businesses in the area were affected by regular anti-social behaviour around their premises in the area, she told the meeting.
Incidents have been reported to police and Barnsley Council.
Cllr Wray said the bus stop had apparently been previously condemned as unsafe and had been expected to be demolished, but barriers put up to keep people out had since been removed.
“The school are aware, identify and deal with them, but it is happening too much. They do have patrols after school,” he said.
Northern Education Trust, which operates Kirk Balk Academy, said in a statement: “Students are encouraged to follow our values of respect, integrity, positivity, excellence and innovation both within and outside the school gates.
“We care about the wider community, and to support both our students and our neighbours, we have a high staff presence at both the start and end of the school day, often in place in locations far beyond the school gates.
"We will always respond to any feedback provided directly to us, and will continue to work closely with our wider community.”