Reckless attacks on children's play equipment condemned

Children's play areas have been torched and bins and benches extensively damaged.

Deputy mayor Cllr Nathan Pardoe is calling for an urgent meeting between councillors and the police to curb the alarming rise in anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Pardoe told members of Winsford Town Council at a meeting on Monday night: "Given the level of damage and its violent nature, I've asked the town clerk to contact local policing unit Chief Inspector Gary Smith to arrange a meeting urgently.

"Over the past month there have been reports of vandalism at parks across Winsford.

Deputy mayor Cllr Nathan Pardoe urges residents to report any vandalism they see to the police

Deputy mayor Cllr Nathan Pardoe urges residents to report any vandalism they see to the police

"Parks are for us to enjoy and residents are rightly appalled by vandalism.

"Repairing it takes staff and resources away from more positive things."

Damage has been caused to play equipment and bins Winsford Town Park and Wharton Recreation.

A children's play area in Longmynd Rise was torched on Monday evening. Rubber matting was deliberately set on fire.

A handmade bench for people to sit on the water's edge at Winsford Flashes and remember lost Covid victims has been trashed for the second time in a month.

Six-inch bolts were wrenched from the ground and the bench turned over.

A bench created for people to remember Covid victims at Winsford Flashes has been trashed for the second time

A bench created for people to remember Covid victims at Winsford Flashes has been trashed for the second time

Cllr Pardoe said: "No-one in their right mind would vandalise a bench. Most people have lost someone to Covid or know someone.

"This heavy violent damage is worrying. Anti social behaviour has flared up and we don't know why.

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"It is not just happening in Winsford but in different communities around the area."

A bin was torched at Winsford Town Park

A bin was torched at Winsford Town Park

Everyone is being urged to report any vandalism they see, no matter how small.

"People can report vandalism anonymously," said Cllr Pardoe. "If you see anything you need to tell the police so they can build up a full picture. Times, dates and which way the vandals walked in or out of the park can all help so we can establish where they are coming from.

"We need to make a stand. This vandalism shouldn't be happening.

"It is not fair to blame young people as most kids go to the park, have a good time and go home.

"We need to break this cycle, it is only a small group who are causing these problems. We are collectively going to stand up against these vandals. They are not going to win."