A vandal attack has caused the closure of the Grove Lane children’s play area in Ripon.
A rubberised surface designed to soften falls for children playing on the swings has been damaged and the area will remain closed for weeks until it is repaired.
All Ripon city councillors were informed of the vandalism on Wednesday, after Jennifer Love, Harrogate Borough Council’s (HBC) technical officer for parks and playgrounds, contacted the city council.
In an email, she said:
“Unfortunately I have been forced to close and lock up Grove Lane Play area due to vandalism of the safety surfaces.
“I will arrange the repairs, but it could take a few weeks to resolve and the repair will cost over £2,000.”
Anybody who witnessed suspicious activity in the area of the playground is asked to contact the police on 101.
Ward councillor and the leader of Ripon City Council, Andrew Williams, said:
“It is very sad that mindless morons with nothing better to do have closed the play area intended for local children. I welcome that Harrogate Borough Council will repair and get the play area open again, but this is council tax that could have been better spent given the current economic climate.”
The Grove Lane play area where the rubberised surface has been damaged.
The attack on the play area is the latest incident in a spate of vandalism and other antisocial behaviour in Ripon.
In recent weeks, a number of city centre premises have had windows vandalised, graffiti containing an obscenity was daubed on a wall in close proximity to the cathedral and fly tippers dumped old furniture and rubbish on a secluded green area on Stonebridgegate.
Read more:
- Obscene graffiti daubed on wall near Ripon cathedral
- Fly tippers target secluded area in Ripon
- Helicopter police chase leads to arrests in Ripon
Earlier this year, Ripon police called for parents to be more vigilant to help tackle anti-social behaviour in the city,
Making a direct appeal for assistance, Sergeant Clare Mayes of North Yorkshire Police’s Ripon Neighbourhood Policing Team said:
“Parents, please take responsibility and find out where your children have been, what they’ve been up to and who they have been with – before you receive a knock on the door from a police officer.“
