Vandals 'deliberately endangering children' by damaging equipment at Newbury playgrounds

Vandals are “deliberately endangering children” at town playgrounds by removing screws from play equipment, Newbury Town Council has said.

Councillor Sarah Slack said “innocent” children were being put at risk by the damage.

As a result, the council has launched a campaign to save its playgrounds, calling on residents to report any incidents of vandalism.

The Newbury Weekly News reported last month that town playgrounds could be forced to close after a “wave” of vandalism and graffiti across the town.

Newbury Town Council said at the time vandals had caused “considerable damage” to the equipment at the play area in Digby Road, with two children’s slides vandalised and sprayed with graffiti.

In Victoria Park meanwhile, described by the council as the “jewel in their crown”, the paddle boat container, kiosk, skatepark, tennis courts and the gates were all damaged or graffitied.

Now, the council is calling on residents to help save the playgrounds around the town by being vigilant and reporting incidents where they see people damaging play equipment to the council or the police.

Ms Slack, chairperson of the council’s community services committee, said: “This mindless damage is really frustrating and dangerous.

“Some malicious people are setting out to deliberately endanger children by removing nuts, bolts or screws from play equipment.

“They actually go out with the tools needed to do this damage.

“It’s hard to understand the mentality of these people.”

She said the vandalism was costing the council and the taxpayers of Newbury as it was money that should be spent on the regular upkeep of its playgrounds, rather than on repairing “malicious damage”.

She continued: “We are concerned that if it continues, play equipment may have to be removed, or worse still, someone will be injured.

“I am appealing to those who are causing this damage to stop immediately before you injure an innocent child.

“That’s why we are calling on residents to help us stop this by reporting it to us or the police.

“Our playgrounds are located all over Newbury and are loved and valued by the community.”