Wirral Council tells family of teenager killed in bike crash to remove park memorial

Feb 16 2013 by Lorna Hughes, Liverpool Echo

THE family of a teenager killed in a bike crash said they were heartbroken after being told to remove a memorial to him from a Wirral park.

A hut in Upton Park, Moreton, has become a place for loved ones to pay tribute to Daniel Chong, 16, since his death last summer.

Flowers, messages, photographs, candles and lights were left at the shelter, where the teenager and his friends gathered to play football.

His mum Lynne, who visits every day, told the ECHO she was contacted by Wirral council on Friday and asked to remove the items.

She said she was devastated to be told the only possible compromise would see her removing the tributes rather than them being taken down by council staff.

Wirral councillor Ian Lewis has called on officials to “think again”.

Ms Chong said: “I am absolutely devastated to think that they would like me to take everything down. It breaks my heart.

“It is literally just a hut. My son Lewis said it was a right mess before. There was litter everywhere and now it is spotless – people are respectful.

“Daniel’s friends went there the day he died with cards and flowers and it snowballed from there.

“They started taking candles and little lights and putting messages up and at Christmas they took presents for him.

“Daniel was there all the time. He and his friends used to meet there and just chat and relax or have a kickabout on the field.”

Talented sportsman Daniel, who lived with his family close to Upton Park, died after losing control of the off-road scrambler bike he was riding in Bromborough in August last year.