PLAY parks in a County Durham village were targeted in a spate of disgusting vandalism that saw glass embedded in the handles of a toddlers slide. A trail of destruction was left through the children s play areas in Memorial Park, in Trimdon Station Parish, which has been labelled senseless and idiotic . The extensive damage included fly tipping, foul-mouthed graffiti, broken glass and ruined football and cricket pitches. Chairman of Trimdon Foundry Parish Council, Cllr Carole Bell, said: Some people just take great pleasure in spoiling other people s enjoyment and have very little respect for things that they don t own.
It s a minority that are spoiling it for the rest of the community. Everybody is disgusted that people do this kind of thing.
Sometime during the weekend trees were snapped and planters were overturned on Rodwell Street while a bed and a bag of rubbish were dumped near the toddlers play area. Graffiti was also found inscribed on equipment, a bin had been set on fire, broken glass was strewn across both the middle-age and toddlers play areas and safety matting had been ripped up from under the toddlers swings. Track marks had been ploughed through the sports fields where goal posts were knocked out of place and a vehicle was found burnt out.
Now counting the cost of the damage, the council anticipates a bill of around 1,000 for repairs. It is also planning on ramping up security and in the meantime has been left with no choice but to close the two affected play parks temporarily to allow them to be cleaned and checked.
We all just get very frustrated and said it s time to make a stand and get it out that it s not acceptable, added Cllr Bell. The things we would prefer to spend the money on will have to be spent on security cameras to try and stop this behaviour which is now a very strong possibility.
We are looking at how to make it secure and make it safe.
A cash reward is being offered to those who come forward and assist in taking the offenders to court.
Anyone with information can contact council clerk John Robinson on 07500807204.