Fury as more damage to park

PARK rangers are furious after vandals smashed up tables and dug a huge phallic shape on an Ipswich bowling green.

In the second attack on Christchurch Park this week, two picnic tables supplied by charity Genesis have been damaged and the bowling green has been dug up with a spade.

As previously revealed in The Evening Star, vandals caused around £6,000 of damage to the children's play area last Friday when the multi-activity unit was damaged.

On that occasion holes were also dug in the bowling green and the window of a digger smashed.

There has been a spate of incidents in the park over the past six weeks.

This week park picnic tables supplied by Genesis, who work with disabled people making mainly oak furniture were the targets.

They had been given to the park a number of years ago and had suffered only very minor damage previously.

Sam Pollard, the Christchurch Park manager, said: “It sickens me. We have been given lottery funding to improve the park.

“This is the second time in the space of five days the play area has been damaged. I know it's a cliché but this is mindless vandalism.”

Now security measures have been put forward to prevent further vandalism.

Mr Pollard added: “We are looking to recruit staff to patrol after dark, when the park is closed. Obviously we will need funding so we will have to wait and see.”

Councillor Judy Terry, who is responsible for arts, culture and leisure described the events as mindless and selfish. She added: “It's costing the council money that should be used to improve the park and make it better for the public.”

“We will be increasing patrol staff, as we do for the summer anyway. But we shall have to recruit more”.

Police are requesting that anyone with information to contact them. If you can help, call Ipswich police on 01473 613500 or Crime stoppers on 0800 555111.

n. What do you think of the people who do this?

N see page 23 for the latest news on the unusual finds at the park's round pond.