SKATE park bosses in Stowmarket today vowed not to be beaten by vandals, but said they cannot keep splashing cash to tidy up behind them.Hundreds of pounds of council tax payers money has been spent on maintaining the skating and BMX park, in the Recreation Ground.

SKATE park bosses in Stowmarket today vowed not to be beaten by vandals, but said they cannot keep splashing cash to tidy up behind them.

Hundreds of pounds of council tax payers money has been spent on maintaining the skating and BMX park, in the Recreation Ground.

Smashed glass, litter and other discarded items regularly tarnishes the appearance of the £45,000 facility, leaving town council employees with the task of clearing it up.

Town and district councillor Marilyn Finbow, one of the driving forces behind establishing the park, promised there are no plans to close it.

However, she said: "We have to get people to understand that we can't keep putting money into it.

"Every time we have to repair the equipment, it costs us money. The youngsters are asking for new equipment, but while we have to keep paying for repairs, we can't put money into new."

Opened in 2001, the facility boasts features such as half pipes and ramps and was a joint venture between the town council and Mid Suffolk council.

For many years, generations of youngsters had asked for a park to be established and petition of signatures was also presented in support of the move.

Mrs Finbow added: "Even now, the facility is well used by the ones who want to do skating or go on their BMX but we have got the other element who want to use it for purposes it wasn't built for."

The council has been discussions with the police about monitoring the area and it also hopes the appointment of neighbourhood wardens could tackle the menace.

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