Shropshire Star

Vandals targeting site of new community centre in Market Drayton

The site of a new Shropshire community centre and play area is being plagued by vandalism, a civic leader has warned.

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Artist impression of what the new community centre will look like

Councillor Matt Erwin, mayor of Market Drayton, said the land on Longlands play area, off Linden Way, has become the latest hotspot for vandals.

A community centre is being built out of a shipping container in the area, which has also benefitted from new play equipment.

But vandals have been breaking through the security fencing and causing damaged to the site – known as The Zone.

The site of the town’s skate park, off Newport Road, has also attracted vandalism.

Damage has been caused on numerous occasions to the toilets, which lies next to the park, leading to some residents claiming it should never have been built in the first place.

Councillor Erwin said: “Vandalism is widespread around Market Drayton and now it plagues The Zone – an exciting new community lead project aiming to provide a facility for the youth of our town.

“It is currently under construction and the company responsible have requested security be provided when they are not on site as youngsters are literally waiting, within view, until they leave and scaling the security fencing to commit acts of wanton destruction.”

Recently, the public toilets next to the skate park were closed after all the basins in the female toilets were smashed and wet toilet roll was thrown on the ceiling and walls.

“I am angered, saddened, dismayed – these are some polite descriptions of my feelings regarding the vandalism at the Newport Road toilets,” Councillor Erwin said. “This time washbasins have been smashed, previously: pipes torn down, obscenities spray-painted, flower troughs damaged.

“The mind truly boggles. Sadly these events are not localised to the new skate park and are not just a problem for our town. I wish I had an answer.”

Market Drayton Town Council officially opened the new £150,000 skate park last month.

The project was last year awarded £75,000 from Sports England, while a further £80,000 was pledged towards the scheme by the town council to revamp its 15-year-old facility.

Police in the town hope new CCTV will deter further vandalism.