MUST READ: Paradise C Grounds turned to a hellish state

Window frames have been broken out, presumably by vagrants as well and in general the grounds are no longer considered fit for organised sporting events.

September 13, 2018

Reveshni Moodley 2 minutes read

Refuse bins overflow, with litter heaped beneath the stands.

In its heyday, the Paradise C Grounds were home to many epic sporting contests.

Now the grounds, at the corner of Sutherland and Jenkyn Streets, are in a ruinous state and only host the occasional soccer match.

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Local sportsmen find the degradation of the facility saddening.

One cricketer said the C Grounds were formerly one of the better facilities, but at present the ablution block and pitch were effectively unusable.

“We’ve basically forgotten about it; we don’t host matches there.”

Among complaints concerning the C Grounds, were the lack of fencing, abundance of litter and the revolting state of the shower and toilet facilities.

Vagrants appear to have taken over the block entirely.

While the upstairs clubhouse has been welded shut to prevent further damage, the toilets downstairs are choked with faeces and other detritus.

Nearby refuse bins are literally overflowing with waste.

Window frames have been broken out, presumably by vagrants as well and in general the grounds are no longer considered fit for organised sporting events.

“They are not in a good condition at all,” said another sportsman.

Residents in the area also complain of loud music and large gatherings of people at the grounds on weekends, some of whom perform sexual acts in public.

Used condoms seem to bear testimony to this.

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According to an official response from Newcastle Municipality,fencing of the C Grounds was divided into multiple phases, during which time a portion of the fence was stolen.

However, that was replaced through an insurance claim.

“In the 2018/19 financial year there’s no budget allocated for fencing.”

In addition, the municipality removed security guards stationed at the C Grounds and other council-owned premises, due to financial constraints.

However, this also means no policing of these facilities.

“The sports grounds have always been available for public usage. The municipality maintains the ablution block, but due to unceasing vandalism it’s now in a depleted condition.”