Newly refurbished Shropshire cricket square vandalised
The first cricket matches on a newly refurbished pitch has had to be postponed - as the freshly laid all-weather surface has already been vandalised.
Vandals set fire to part of the pitch on the Newington Road playing fields in Craven Arms. The pitch had been given a £5,500 makeover in April to bring it up to league standard and in the hope of establishing a cricket team in the town.
A number of matches arranged at the venue, including a game in memory of two boys who died in a car crash seven years ago, have been cancelled as the damage has been caused close to one of the batting creases.
Eric Williams, clerk of Craven Arms Town Council, said: "There has been an interest in bringing cricket back to Craven Arms and matches were arranged, but they have had to be cancelled.
"By the looks of it they've singed it, using a lighter or matches.
"It's only a small patch, but its a patch that affects the batting, right near the batting crease. If it had happened somewhere else on the side we might have tolerated it, but where it is there is a danger the ball may bounce off it at an angle or players may catch their foot in it."
The inaugural match on the new square was due to take place last week, between over-16 teams from Craven Arms and Shrewsbury.
An annual match in memory of young cricketers Zeeshan Ahmad and Naim Anwart, who were killed in an accident on the A49 in 2007, was also due to take place on the new square in August, but may now have to be held at Ludlow cricket ground again as it has been in previous years.
Mr Williams said councillors were deflated by the vandalism.
"The feeling of the council was 'should we repair it?' There was quite a long debate on that.
"In the end we thought we'd give it another chance because basically we want to see the playing fields used."
He said the council had agreed to pay £300 to patch up the surface.
"Obviously it is covered by insurance, but since you pay the first £250, it's not worth putting it through.
"We're just hoping this is a one-off," he said, "We're spleading that this doesn't happen again."
Police had been informed of the vandalism, he said.
Craven Arms Town Council took over responsibility for the playing fields from the Craven Arms Playing Fields Association earlier this year, and also hope there will be a Sunday senior football team using the field this coming season.
