Arsonists target children's play area
FIREBUGS having been slammed for torching a children's playground.
They set fire to rubber safety matting and climbing frames on a large and popular piece of multi-use equipment on a play area off Danefield Road, Northwich, last Tuesday evening.
The culprits have been rapped by John Grimshaw, Vale Royal Borough Council's lead councillor for Recreation, Rural and Culture.
He said: 'It is disgraceful that this type of malicious damage has occurred in a children's play area, particularly during the school holidays when the site is being enjoyed by so many young people.
'We have conducted an initial assessment of the damage and had to section-off the multi-use play unit on the site for health and safety reasons although all other areas of the site will remain open for use.'
A full structural assessment of the unit is under way to determine whether the equipment can be repaired or needs to be replaced.
A replacement is expected to cost several thousand pounds and council chiefs say it could take some time to secure the money.
Investigations are continuing into the incident and the council intends to prosecute those responsible.
Borough councillor Steve Gough has issued an appeal to people to keep an eye on the playground to prevent further attacks.
'I feel really sorry for the children who have suffered as a result of this and I am appealing to the local community to report anyone they see lighting fires or behaving in an unruly manner to the police or community wardens.'
Anyone who has information about the incident can also ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
* A large fire in a garden at the rear of a Danefield Road, Leftwich, home on Monday evening is also believed to have been started deliberately.
Fire crews were tied up at the incident for about 45 minutes. People are being urged to be extra vigilant and not to overload garden areas with unwanted furniture, refuse and other forms of garden rubbish.
A fire brigade spokesman said: 'If you retain some items inside the gardens then keep them and wheelie bins at least six metres away from your home to prevent fire speed if set alight.'