Newport Victoria Park vandalised after £320,000 revamp
Thursday 17th March 2011, 5:00PM GMT.
A Shropshire park which underwent a £320,000 transformation has been trashed by “mindless idiots” who caused more than £1,000 of damage.
The vandals went on a wrecking spree across Victoria Park, Newport, snapping saplings in half, pulling up hedges and damaging a metal fence.
They also attempted to push a boulder into the park’s stream. It is estimated the attack, which happened over the weekend, will cost Telford & Wrekin Council about £1,000.
Councillor Eric Carter, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said the people of Newport would not let the “thugs” drag down the town’s good name.
“The mindless idiots who have done this are ruining this fantastic facility for the whole community — it’s an insult to everyone in Newport and a real kick in the teeth for everyone who has worked so hard to transform Victoria Park into a place that all of the town can enjoy,” he said.
“We won’t hesitate to press charges against the perpetrators and our Safer Communities Unit is working on a number of actions to support this and are putting appropriate measures in place to ensure this does not happen again.
“The council has already appealed for local people to join a Friends of Victoria Park group to help promote its use,” he added.
Councillor Adam Stanton, of Newport Town Council, who is also a borough councillor, said: “It is an action of a few mindless citizens.”
Chris Ammonds, spokes-man for Newport police, said officers would be investigating the incident.
Anyone with information can call police on 0300 333 3000 or the council’s anti-social behaviour line on (01952) 384384.
To join the Friends of Victoria Park group call (01952) 380000.
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What’s wrong with these stupid deadbeats who think it’s fun to wreck things for everyone in this way.
What we need is the 1960′s/70′s style borstals six months in a place like that would cure them.
They would be so scared of going back in they would behave in future,we can’t keep handling these idiots with kid gloves or taking in the drivel about “deprived childhood etc”
There is no defence for committing criminal damage like this!
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It didn’t work in the 60′s/70′s when kids were still wrecking parks so why would Borstals work properly now.
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The revamp of Victoria park has been paid for by all in Telford. Now that it’s open and handed over to the good people of Newport, what wrong with Newport parish council paying for the repairs??
Residents of newport did this vandalism, make the residents pay.
i’m sick of seeing vast quantities of money being squandered on Newport when they don’t even want to part of this borough.
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goverments think we dont need disipline in schools and look what happens these morons just laugh at authority because the poor little mites come from broken homes well most of these idiots come from good homes just be cause their bored they think they can trash every where this is all down to do gooders lily livered liberals cane em the army dont want em would you want a cretin covering your back no way get rid of the p c brigade let the police give em a clout round the ear like it used to be right that makes me feel better but it will never happen ps if you murder you never get out again 10 years for murder discusting
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Evidently we need to improve teaching on the use of punctuation too.
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Fools! What reason could anyone have to trash a public place like that? So selfish.
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I don’t know why T&W ever bother investing in Newport. Perhaps Victoria Park is more suited to a commercial development like Lidl, Netto or Aldi?
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Perhaps they should razor every children’s play park and in Telford and build supermarkets there too
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what is with you Harold are you missing Lidl, Netto or Aldi because whenever Newport comes up you want to build a supermarket
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bring back corpral punishment,stop being soft with them,they don’t deserve a decent park if there going to wreck it.
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Why?
How has our society reached a point where these morons expend their energy just to destroy something that brings pleasure to everyone else?
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After living in Newport for nigh on 25 years I’ve been away now almost 10 more – but nothing seems to have changed. Still a small loutish element determined to attempt bring everywhere and everyone down to their level. Councilor Stantan, whilst obviously civic minded, misses the point when he refers to them as ‘citizens’. Citizens are/should be a functional part of the local community, supporting and contributing, not destroying.
I sincerely hope that Councilor Carter lives up to his promise, and when these idiots are caught they get the punishment and public humiliation they so richly deserve.
Good luck Newport – you’re a great little town!
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Not sure the Telford v Newport argument is one with any basis these days.
Perhaps you should take a look at all the services and leisure facilities in Telford compared to a crumbling swimming pool in Newport.
And don’t even mention the roads/travel/Postal Services etc etc.
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Put in CCTV. Where’s Big Brother when you need him?
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