A CORNWALL Councillor has hit out at the ‘vandals’ who have damaged Launceston’s Coronation Park.

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South Jade Farrington said: “Following the disgraceful state people left the park in with litter and broken bottles everywhere, vandals have chosen to attack the children’s play area and pull up safety matting.

“The play park is equipped by the Coronation Park Trustees who apply for grants and fundraise to try to give the town’s children a nice place to play. Others seem to want to destroy this.”

She is urging anyone who saw anything to contact police on 101 or by emailing [email protected]

Cllr Farrington added: “They don’t have the resources to be there all the time. I and others have therefore taken the very sad step of requesting that CCTV be installed. I never thought I would be in favour of installing CCTV in a children’s play park, but the regular vandalism, arson and littering have put lives at risk and left a child in hospital after sitting on a broken bottle.

“I understand that the town’s CCTV system signal will not reach as far as Coronation Park so a booster will be required, increasing costs. It is extremely annoying that our taxes are having to be spent to combat the actions of other members of our community. We should all be working for a better town, not trashing it.

“If you saw anything then please contact police. Please do not think ‘they won’t do anything’. The police want to stop this but they can’t if people don’t report information to them!”

Vicky Shaw, who lives opposite the park, came across the vandalism in the park last Wednesday, July 4, when she visited with her husband and 13, 11 and two-year-old children. She said the park hadn’t been in that state a couple of days prior and was ‘disgusted’ at the mess she found it in.

Her husband tried to move some of the matting so it wouldn’t be a danger to park users but it was quite heavy.

She said: “It’s quite scary to think if [the children] were by themselves. I don’t know who’s done this or what they have used to get it up. It’s really, really unsafe. It’s the main park that everyone goes to. It’s such a nice park and such a shame.”

Park trustees said the recent spate of ‘mindless vandalism’ spurred them into taking measures ‘that will not only make the park a safer place for all who use it, but will hopefully bring the mindless individuals to justice’.

The trustees are working closely with the police and leisure centre staff.

The children’s play park area, where the most recent vandalism occurred, is an area that has seen the trust investing a large amount of money into new play equipment over the last few years.

Dave Gordon, Coronation Park Trust chairman, told the Post: “I for one, along with my fellow trustees, are very disappointed and lost for words at the damage that has recently been done in the children’s play park. I am aware that this sort of mindless vandalism is done by a small minority of our community, however I am very determined that those responsible for this damage will be investigated by the police and made an example of. As trustees we are very proud of Coronation Park and it is just a few mindless people who seem determined to spoil this green open area for everyone.”