Own goal Villagers' anger after community-funded posts removed

SOUTH Gloucestershire villagers who raised money for two football goals are furious after they were removed - over health and safety fears.

- Lily SHANAGHER

The community-funded goal posts were bought by residents of Charfield for the local green.

A group of 27 families donated a total of £350 for the goals so kids could play. To celebrate the achievement a party was arranged on March 23, during which the children used the posts.

But they have since been told by South Gloucestershire Council that the football posts could not be used because of health and safety reasons.

A complaint was reportedly made to the council, which sent out a letter to nearby residents demanding the posts be removed.

Olivia Dibden, 32, a mother of three who lives in Charfield, said: “My husband has been in the village for 40 years, and that’s where he played football. It’s such a nice thing that the community had done purely for our children.”

She said the council said the posts were considered fly-tipping - before “jumping” to calling it a health-and safety issue.