Appeal for info as park vandals strike again

Bury Council is appealing for information after vandals struck again in one of the borough’s parks.

The latest damage is to a concrete table tennis table, installed only last month.

It follows vandalism carried out at the green space in Higher Ainsworth Road in Radcliffe, where metal silhouettes of animals – specially made for Radcliffe in Bloom - had their heads chopped off and had to be removed for safety reasons.

The six table tennis tables were installed at Whitehead Park in Bury, Bolton Road Park in Radcliffe, Manchester Road Park in Bury, Whitefield Park, St Mary’s Park in Prestwich, and Towns Meadow Park in Tottington.

But the vandals didn’t wait long to strike – the table at Whitehead Park was installed on 19 August, and lasted just three days before being damaged.

Council chiefs have ordered a replacement, as the table is now cracked.

Councillor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for environment, said: “Yet again, a small minority of people think they have the right to spoil things for everyone else.

“This was not some impulsive act – this was a concrete block that was bonded into the table, and it would have taken six hefty people to lift this.

“If anyone has an information about who carried out this act of vandalism, please call the council on 0161 253 5353.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 4 September 2013.

Picture attached: The broken table tennis table at Whitehead Park in Bury.