INSPECTIONS at Barnsley’s vandal-hit parks which have been responsible for almost 400 call-outs - and a £40,000 repair bill - in a year are being stepped up.
According to a Freedom of Information response from Barnsley Council, about 390 damage reports per year are logged owing to vandalised equipment, fires, graffiti and broken glass.
The Chronicle can reveal daily inspections are carried out at so-called ‘primary’ areas, with fortnightly check-ups done at smaller venues.
It comes after council bosses warned that rocketing repair costs - especially for deliberately-damaged play equipment - will not be able to continue in the long-term.
A swing on Bly Road’s playground in Darfield was set alight last summer, which cost approximately £3,500 to replace.
Damaged equipment has to be quickly removed and although the council has repaired or replaced items such as soft flooring and swings, a lack of funds to continue doing so could mean that might not always be possible at the 143 play areas it’s responsible for.
Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, told the Chronicle: “I am appalled that a small number of individuals continue to target and damage our beautiful parks and playgrounds, spaces that are meant to be enjoyed by all members of our community.
“We will not tolerate such antisocial behaviour, and we are committed to doing everything we can to protect these important community assets.
“We are working closely with the police, Safer Neighbourhoods teams, and our residents to tackle this issue and ensure that our parks remain safe and welcoming.
“Vandalism, including arson, glass, and graffiti removal, puts an unnecessary strain on our resources and it’s incredibly disappointing that money is being spent on repairing senseless damage rather than improving our facilities for everyone.
“We urge anyone who witnesses antisocial behaviour to report it to the appropriate authorities so we can all help preserve these spaces for future generations.
“The reality is that local children and families suffer from every act of vandalism when it is no longer viable for Barnsley Council to keep replacing damaged equipment.
“Our parks department spent over £48,000 maintaining parks and play areas last year.
“Most of that was spent repairing equipment which was deliberately damaged and could have otherwise been used to improve facilities for all to enjoy.
“If you have any information relating to incidents, please let us know or report directly to South Yorkshire Police on 101.
“You can also contact safer@barnsley.gov.uk or complete the online form on our website.”
