Vandalism at Well Road Playpark in Buckie causes £2000 of damages
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VANDALS have caused around £2000 worth of damage to a popular Buckie playpark, it has been revealed.
A hole was burned in the slide at Well Road Playpark in the town by vandals towards the end of June, with fixings also damaged.
The slide is now boarded up and has been rendered out of use for children.
Repairing the damage has been priced at £2000 – almost a quarter of Moray Council's budget for repairing playpark equipment, which stands at £9000.
The park was originally revamped and opened in November 2018 after a significant fundraising effort from the Well Road Park committee saw more than £60,000 raised.
Michelle Gauld was the secretary of the committee. She said: "The slide will need to be replaced as it's unusable.
"It's very upsetting because it took a while to get the funding together and it's a lot of money for anyone to raise.
"We were very lucky to be able to get as much funding as we did to replace the park so to see it damaged like this is really upsetting and disappointing. It feels like we are back to square one.
"It was such a proud moment to see the park operating and children enjoying it.
"Now, unfortunately, one of the main pieces of equipment has been damaged by one individual or a small group and all other children will suffer by not being able to use the equipment."
Michelle is hopeful that the Well Road Park committee can come back together to fundraise to replace the slide next year – but knows raising cash will be harder during the current cost-of-living crisis.
"With everything going on right now, and after Covid, fundraising and getting funding will not be easy," she said.
"But the committee are in talks at the minute to get together and look at things. It will take committee intervention to raise funds and replace the slide.
"We are hoping it's something for early spring or summer next year. We are committed to keeping the park open for kids in the area."
For now, the nearest park for youngsters to use is Linzee Gordon Park – which means crossing busy roads.
Councillor Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP) added: "It's concerning that children can start fires like this and cause so much damage.
"There's a danger that the children cause by having melted plastic dripping down. I dread to think what would have happened if another child was standing below.
"It's more upsetting because local mums worked really hard to raise all that money for the park.
"My concern is the level of vandalism that happens to play equipment. What are children thinking if they are setting fire to things?
"It's a shame that some young people have rendered this park unusable for their peers."
Meanwhile, plans to put new bins in Well Road Park have been suspended due to anti-social behaviour.
Bins – which cost £400 each – are being set on fire so regularly that the council can no longer afford to replace them.
To keep up-to-date with fundraising efforts from the Well Road Park committee, visit www.facebook.com/TheReturnOfWellRoadPlayPark
