Hanwell Youths Want Football Pitch

He said: "There's a lot of windows breaking on the estate because there's nowhere for the kids to go and play football.

"People just hang around on street corners all over the estate because there's nowhere to go and there's no entertainment."

Mr Ali says there are two spots which could house a football pitch and adds: "We've got a small park on the estate, and behind that there's a massive field. It hasn't been used for anything over the last 15 years.

"If we had our own football pitch it would stop kids hanging about and causing havoc. They would be more likely to socialise, enjoy themselves and do something positive."

Mr Ali raised the issue at Hobbayne Ward Forum last month but was unsuccessful in getting support from ward councillors.

He said: "I was told that taxpayers may not want to see a football pitch on the estate, but what they don't realize is that people like myself don't pay tax, so how are we supposed to make our voices heard?"

Mr Ali said he and a group of friends plan to email the council and organise a meeting early to discuss the possibility of having facilities installed.

Hobbayne ward councillor Colm Costello said: "If you go to the High Lane Estate and look at the landscaping, you'll see it's almost impossible to install a football pitch.

"That said, we will be conducting a feasibility study into whether it will be possible for some sort of facility.

"For the kids who really want to play football, there's a pitch about 300 to 400 yards from the estate. That's pretty good going."