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Dismay at park vandalism
Sep 7, 2010
CHILDREN in Staindrop have had their summer holiday fun scuppered by vandals who forced the closure of the village playpark by causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
The culprits wrecked a climbing frame and several ride-on toys in the small play area at Stangarth Lane, last Saturday night.
The damage was so serious that the village’s parish council was forced to chain the gates to the park and put a warning notice to stop people entering the area.
The council’s chairman, Ed Chicken, said the attack on the equipment must have been ‘sustained and determined’ to cause such extreme damage.
As well as the broken equipment, there was also damage to the fence of an adjoining residential property and alcohol bottles and cans were left strewn all over the ground.
Acting Sgt Jon Dixon, of Barnard Castle Police, said: “The culprits have left the area in quite a state of disrepair.”
The attack comes just months after the parish council took over the responsibility for the park, which had previously been looked after by a now defunct village-based children’s group.
The parish council had been hoping to revamp the park and had been in the process of looking for funding but the recent vandalism could put those plans on hold.
Mr Chicken said the council wanted to turn the park into a more ‘natural play area’ that would suit younger children.
Questionnaires about the park’s future are currently available from the village’s Spar shop to gauge residents’ preferences for the area and Mr Chicken said: “Everyone in the village is urged to give their views as this is crucial to securing funding and getting the design right.”
Mr Chicken, who praised the police force’s quick response to the vandalism, also said that he hoped the county council might help with funding for repairs and new equipment.
He said: “It seems unfair that elsewhere in the county the county council accepts responsibility for providing and maintaining play parks at Stainton Grove and some of the Barnard Castle parks, plus those in most other towns but in Staindrop we are left to our own devices.
“We all know that times are difficult in the public sector, but some assistance would be most welcome.”
Cllr George Richardson has been speaking with both Mr Chicken and the county council and said: “I would love to see them get some funding to get the play park up-and-running again.”
Lee Stephenson, principal Area Action Partnership co-ordinator, said: “Despite the fact that Staindrop play area stands on private land we are happy to help in any way that we can.
“Teesdale Area Action Partnership will happily work with the parish council and will try to source partner agencies who could help to find available grants or alternative funding.
“We understand the parish council are disappointed their bid for Playbuilder funding was unsuccessful and while we haven’t had a formal approach for further help we would welcome their contact.”
Police have carried out a forensic examination at the scene and posters appealing for information have been placed around Staindrop.
Act Sgt Dixon added: “We’d also like to hear from teenagers who may have spent the evening in he park but were not necessarily responsible for the damage.”
People with information are asked to phone police on 0345 60 60 365.