Residents of Charfield in Gloucestershire are outraged after community-funded football goals were removed due to health and safety concerns. The goal posts, purchased by 27 families who collectively donated £350, were intended for local children to use on the village green.

The achievement was celebrated with a party on March 23, where the children enjoyed using the new posts. However, South Gloucestershire Council has since informed the villagers that the posts cannot be used due to health and safety reasons, following a complaint made to the council. Olivia Dibden, 32, a mother of three from Charfield, expressed her disappointment: "My husband has been in the village for 40 years, and that's where he played football."

She added: "It's such a nice thing that the community had done purely for our children." Dibden revealed that the council initially labelled the posts as fly-tipping before citing it as a health-and-safety issue. She found it "frustrating" not knowing the specifics of the complaints, which prevented them from being addressed.

The council also refused to allow parents to remove and replace the posts as needed, fearing it could set a precedent. Kathryn Lock, 43, a financial manager and mother of two boys aged 13 and eight, said: "I live close to the area where the goalposts were. My two boys go out there, enjoy it."

The community has been left disheartened by recent events, with one local expressing: "It's just really sad and disappointing. I think it's just the way society is, where people can't take responsibility for their own actions and claim and now it's having implications on the younger generation, where things are being taken away from them."

They added, "I can't imagine that any of the complaints would have been for the welfare of the children. It's probably just because they don't want a ball in their garden or they don't like the sound of children laughing." Highlighting the innocence of the situation, they noted, "The age they are, they're not out there late."

However, they remain optimistic, saying, "But sadly, they all feel as if they've done something naughty now, so we are encouraging them to go back out and play." Rob, a 35 year old builder who resides near the field, shared his thoughts: "I think it's a bit sad."

He understands the joy of childhood, stating, "You hear the kids playing but being a parent myself, I'm not too bothered about hearing kids play. And if you've bought a house there, what do you expect?" Reflecting on the broader issue, Rob said, "I guess someone's had a moan. It's just the world we live in these days." He lamented the mixed messages given to youth: "They want the kids to play and not be doing drugs and then they stop them from actually playing."

Hannah Hind, 36, an HR professional and mother of two, contributed to the cause. She believes in the importance of outdoor play, saying, "It's nice for the local children to have something on this side of the village to play with." Expressing her disbelief, she commented, "I'm just really shocked that someone would complain about such a lovely, local thing and opportunity for children."

She criticized the modern dilemma, stating, "They complain kids are stuck in their rooms with social media and technology and this was a way to get them out and get them together." A local has slammed the council, suggesting they need to concentrate on critical issues, remarking: "I think the council should focus their efforts on other, more pressing matters that they should be sorting out."

Expressing disapproval towards those who raised objections, they added: "I also thought it was really petty of someone to complain and sad, actually." Another resident, living adjacent to the field, commented on the benefit for children: "Kids spend a lot of time on computer games, and actually that space is used quite a lot, so it was nice to actually give them a focus, rather than just being in the way."

She highlighted community involvement, saying: "People that don't even have children put money towards it." Reflecting on the fundraising effort, she pointed out: "At no point during fundraising did anybody turn around and say they had a problem with it." On the other hand, a spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council acknowledged the communal efforts, stating: "We appreciate the effort local residents have put into installing the goalposts."

They also noted the council's responsibilities: "However, we do have a duty of care to ensure all play equipment at our public open spaces has the relevant permission and is appropriately installed and maintained." The spokesperson disclosed plans for resolving the issue: "We will continue our dialogue with residents about the matter and intend to liaise with the Parish Council to discuss potential solutions." In the end, the donated goals have found a new home at a local school.