Laindon park is the latest target of vandals

4:00pm Thursday 4th August 2011 in Basildon By Gina Marden

Angry – Kevin Blake inspects the latest damage by vandals Angry – Kevin Blake inspects the latest damage by vandals

NEW play areas across Basildon will stop being built if yobs continue to target them, a furious councillor has said.

Kevin Blake spoke out after thugs targeted yet another of the borough’s playing areas, this time torching play equipment at Victoria Park, in Victoria Road, Laindon.

The playground is the third one to be trashed by yobs in as many months.

It is undergoing a make-over to turn it into a £180,000 sports area, with new play equipment.

But Mr Blake, Basildon Council’s cabinet member for leisure and the arts, said the continued vandalism of the borough’s parks was putting future investment in play equipment in jeopardy.

He said: “It’s just vandalism again.

“We are giving them brand new facilities and this is the way they repay us, by wrecking another play area.

“These people, I don’t care whether they are young or old, they are just scum.

“The more the council has to pay out the less chance there will be of putting investment into parks. While we are spending money on repairing stuff, that money is not getting spent on new equipment.

“I also won’t accept the argument youths have got nothing to do. These days there is far more to do than when I was younger and we just got on with it. We are getting to the stage where we are going to have to say enough is enough.”

Police were called to the park in Victoria Road at about 5am on Saturday following reports rubber safety matting had been torched.

In May, the Echo told how yobs ripped down security fencing at the newly revamped play area in Swan Mead, Vange.

At the same time the Langdon Hills Recreation Ground, in New Avenue, was targeted twice in a fortnight.

Comments (17)

4:29pm Thu 4 Aug 11

Nebs says...

Perhaps if something, other than a slapped wrist and being sent home, was done when these criminals are caught then they would think twice before setting fire to things.
Perhaps if something, other than a slapped wrist and being sent home, was done when these criminals are caught then they would think twice before setting fire to things. Nebs

4:56pm Thu 4 Aug 11

leigh-my-town says...

Good aul Basildon. So right Nebs there's no respect for authority. Allow criminals who get caught get a right beating! I want to see the introduction of the "Teach them a lesson" law which means a proper hiding for those who commit such offences.
Good aul Basildon. So right Nebs there's no respect for authority. Allow criminals who get caught get a right beating! I want to see the introduction of the "Teach them a lesson" law which means a proper hiding for those who commit such offences. leigh-my-town

4:59pm Thu 4 Aug 11

TheWizzard says...

Nice to see Blakey doing his usual act of hypocrosy. Whenever there has been vandalism over in Lake Meadows he quite happily uses tax payers money to do repairs. No threat of building houses over there!
Nice to see Blakey doing his usual act of hypocrosy. Whenever there has been vandalism over in Lake Meadows he quite happily uses tax payers money to do repairs. No threat of building houses over there! TheWizzard

5:57pm Thu 4 Aug 11

arram says...

well someone must know who is doing this...I would suggest a reward to anyone giving information...NOT just leading to an arrest...just for info...there are many wealthy business people in the area who would contribute
well someone must know who is doing this...I would suggest a reward to anyone giving information...NOT just leading to an arrest...just for info...there are many wealthy business people in the area who would contribute arram

6:38pm Thu 4 Aug 11

leighbloke says...

Surely every play area for chidren should be fenced and have a gate that can be locked at dusk. Indeed using today's technology the gates could even be electonically controlled
Any open plan play area that may well be badly lit can attract those who are by defination bored or looking for trouble to gather.
We should not lose play areas for our children but should take the precautions to keep out at night those who are simply out to destroy.
Surely every play area for chidren should be fenced and have a gate that can be locked at dusk. Indeed using today's technology the gates could even be electonically controlled Any open plan play area that may well be badly lit can attract those who are by defination bored or looking for trouble to gather. We should not lose play areas for our children but should take the precautions to keep out at night those who are simply out to destroy. leighbloke

7:10pm Thu 4 Aug 11

AnotherSister says...

I used to be one of those 'loony lefties' who opposed correction centres such as Borstal. I'm still a 'leftie' but hopefully no longer loony. Bring back that style of correction centre, as to me, evidence shows that perhaps they did work after all - well, at least better than any system which has been in progress since their demise.
I used to be one of those 'loony lefties' who opposed correction centres such as Borstal. I'm still a 'leftie' but hopefully no longer loony. Bring back that style of correction centre, as to me, evidence shows that perhaps they did work after all - well, at least better than any system which has been in progress since their demise. AnotherSister

7:20pm Thu 4 Aug 11

Kim Gandy says...

This is what you get for living under Socialist Libservative rule.. liblabcon.. couldn't get a Rizla paper between the lot. Decades of soft soaping namby pambyness. If you vote any of the above, you have asked for this. And the Conservatives are the worst hypocrites of the lot. Totally abandoned their original principles; Labour are the true traitors and enemies of our whole society and everything we hold dear - and the less said about the Limpdums the better.
This is what you get for living under Socialist Libservative rule.. liblabcon.. couldn't get a Rizla paper between the lot. Decades of soft soaping namby pambyness. If you vote any of the above, you have asked for this. And the Conservatives are the worst hypocrites of the lot. Totally abandoned their original principles; Labour are the true traitors and enemies of our whole society and everything we hold dear - and the less said about the Limpdums the better. Kim Gandy

10:31pm Thu 4 Aug 11

justice for basildon says...

Wasn't it Councillor Kevin Blake that was in the Echo a few months ago advising residents that 108 yes 108 children's play areas were going to be stripped of their play equipment and declared open spaces and when asked if they would ever be sold off for development advised you can never say never?? Lake Meadows has had plenty of anti social bevaviour and vandalism, yet has its own wardens but despite the vandalism his administration still invests a hundred thousand plus pounds into it. Whats good enough for parks North of the Borough should be the same for parks in the South too but what is this administration doing to the parks in the south proposing to sell off huge chunks of them for housing development. Shame on all the Basildon Tory Councillors. All residents should be at the Save Our Spaces II Protest Rally at the Bas Centre 12.30pm on the 19th August 2011
Wasn't it Councillor Kevin Blake that was in the Echo a few months ago advising residents that 108 yes 108 children's play areas were going to be stripped of their play equipment and declared open spaces and when asked if they would ever be sold off for development advised you can never say never?? Lake Meadows has had plenty of anti social bevaviour and vandalism, yet has its own wardens but despite the vandalism his administration still invests a hundred thousand plus pounds into it. Whats good enough for parks North of the Borough should be the same for parks in the South too but what is this administration doing to the parks in the south proposing to sell off huge chunks of them for housing development. Shame on all the Basildon Tory Councillors. All residents should be at the Save Our Spaces II Protest Rally at the Bas Centre 12.30pm on the 19th August 2011 justice for basildon

11:04pm Thu 4 Aug 11

el caballero de la noche says...

Kim Gandy wrote:
This is what you get for living under Socialist Libservative rule.. liblabcon.. couldn't get a Rizla paper between the lot. Decades of soft soaping namby pambyness. If you vote any of the above, you have asked for this. And the Conservatives are the worst hypocrites of the lot. Totally abandoned their original principles; Labour are the true traitors and enemies of our whole society and everything we hold dear - and the less said about the Limpdums the better.
very true they are all bloody useless back stabbing barstools.
[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote: This is what you get for living under Socialist Libservative rule.. liblabcon.. couldn't get a Rizla paper between the lot. Decades of soft soaping namby pambyness. If you vote any of the above, you have asked for this. And the Conservatives are the worst hypocrites of the lot. Totally abandoned their original principles; Labour are the true traitors and enemies of our whole society and everything we hold dear - and the less said about the Limpdums the better.[/p][/quote]very true they are all bloody useless back stabbing barstools. el caballero de la noche

12:25pm Fri 5 Aug 11

resident3 says...

Let me guess the outcome - exasperated Councillor recommends that play areas be sold to developers due to the vandalism?
Let me guess the outcome - exasperated Councillor recommends that play areas be sold to developers due to the vandalism? resident3

4:11pm Fri 5 Aug 11

Jack0 says...

There was never any bad damage over at Langdon Hills, just some temporary fences knocked down. I suspect that these incidents are being blown up so that the council can evade their duty to provide play areas after removing dozens of them just a couple of years ago.
There was never any bad damage over at Langdon Hills, just some temporary fences knocked down. I suspect that these incidents are being blown up so that the council can evade their duty to provide play areas after removing dozens of them just a couple of years ago. Jack0

5:27pm Fri 5 Aug 11

Ironman says...

Kim Gandy wrote:
This is what you get for living under Socialist Libservative rule.. liblabcon.. couldn't get a Rizla paper between the lot. Decades of soft soaping namby pambyness. If you vote any of the above, you have asked for this. And the Conservatives are the worst hypocrites of the lot. Totally abandoned their original principles; Labour are the true traitors and enemies of our whole society and everything we hold dear - and the less said about the Limpdums the better.
Right again, Kimbo. When will the Electorate wake up and realise that MP's only have their party's interests (and their own) at heart.
The very least we should be doing is voting for Independant candidates who are responsible to their voters ONLY.
[quote][p][bold]Kim Gandy[/bold] wrote: This is what you get for living under Socialist Libservative rule.. liblabcon.. couldn't get a Rizla paper between the lot. Decades of soft soaping namby pambyness. If you vote any of the above, you have asked for this. And the Conservatives are the worst hypocrites of the lot. Totally abandoned their original principles; Labour are the true traitors and enemies of our whole society and everything we hold dear - and the less said about the Limpdums the better.[/p][/quote]Right again, Kimbo. When will the Electorate wake up and realise that MP's only have their party's interests (and their own) at heart. The very least we should be doing is voting for Independant candidates who are responsible to their voters ONLY. Ironman

5:48pm Fri 5 Aug 11

leslog says...

what on earth is the matter with these people ,they should be named and shamed i am aware the council say they will not fund anymore if this continues ,perhaps some mobile park keeper or some retired volunteers could keep eye to report immediately to the police any damage by vandals
what on earth is the matter with these people ,they should be named and shamed i am aware the council say they will not fund anymore if this continues ,perhaps some mobile park keeper or some retired volunteers could keep eye to report immediately to the police any damage by vandals leslog

8:01pm Fri 5 Aug 11

TheWizzard says...

I think they got rid of the park keepers in Basildon, but kept one in Lake meadows
I think they got rid of the park keepers in Basildon, but kept one in Lake meadows TheWizzard

8:18pm Fri 5 Aug 11

leslog says...

IF PARK KEEPERS KEEP THE AREA VANDAL FREE BRING EM BACK
IF PARK KEEPERS KEEP THE AREA VANDAL FREE BRING EM BACK leslog

1:22pm Sat 6 Aug 11

Jack0 says...

There are council workers who look after the parks at times but a park keeper would have to be there around the clock to stop vandalism, these parks cant be locked.

Unless they tell us the cost of repairs due to vandalism over the last year we can safely assume that it is a lot less than the cost of effective park keepers.
There are council workers who look after the parks at times but a park keeper would have to be there around the clock to stop vandalism, these parks cant be locked. Unless they tell us the cost of repairs due to vandalism over the last year we can safely assume that it is a lot less than the cost of effective park keepers. Jack0

4:22pm Sat 6 Aug 11

justice for basildon says...

Poor, poor, Councillor Kevin Blake, perhaps he is hoping he is sent on another course on parks at his beloved Manchester United FC ground at a cost of hundreds of pounds to the taxpayer, get a few lovely autograghs, bit of free grub and have a good old mooch around the footy shop for a couple of souvenirs.
Oh Blakey get off the end of that slide, its for kids and you could be bending it.
Poor, poor, Councillor Kevin Blake, perhaps he is hoping he is sent on another course on parks at his beloved Manchester United FC ground at a cost of hundreds of pounds to the taxpayer, get a few lovely autograghs, bit of free grub and have a good old mooch around the footy shop for a couple of souvenirs. Oh Blakey get off the end of that slide, its for kids and you could be bending it. justice for basildon

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