A community-run garden in Peterhead has sustained up to £10,000 worth of damage within weeks of opening after a refurbishment.
Located on the former Victoria Bowling Club, the park was conceived by the Peterhead Area Community Trust (Pact) as an inclusive safe place for residents.
It is the first in the north-east to contain a sensory garden, playpark, picnic area and outdoor adult gym equipment in the one location.
However, just days after opening to the public, vandals have caused between £6,000 and £10,000 worth of damage, according to Pact vice-chairman Graeme Mackie.
Police have stepped up patrols in the area after the most recent incident, which included flowers being ripped, glass being strewn across the floor and damage to benches.
‘People poured milkshakes and juice down the slides’
The community trust in Peterhead has resorted to padlocking the gates due to the spate of incidents.
However, even this has not prevented the vandalism as people have reportedly scaled the boundary fence to get inside.
Previously, gym equipment had been taped off, with Pact members having to clear up litter daily – even though massive bins are provided in the park.
Before the park had even opened to the public, Pact was made aware of damage to parts of the community space.
Mr Mackie said: “Within 48 hours we were getting reports of trees snapped, graffiti on the play equipment and obscenities drawn.
“They then decided to start vandalising items of the sensory garden. We then had to increase patrols and get community wardens involved.”
Peterhead Academy is opposite the park, and at lunchtime pupils congregate at the park with food and drink from local eateries.
Mr Mackie has met with school staff to inform them of mess being left in the park.
He claimed between 100 and 150 pupils would gather in the park at lunchtimes, putting off other users, including toddler groups.
Mr Mackie said volunteers are having to remove mounds of litter from the park after every school lunch break – calling the situation “frustrating”.
He added: “We have 10 112-litre bins dotted around the park, and they are full to the brim every day.”
Historic benches graffitied
Pact members had refurbished original Victorian benches from the former bowling club to use in the park, only for them to be graffitied with obscenities.
Playpark equipment was also pulled from the ground with sticky liquids poured down the slides, preventing people from using them.
Mr Mackie said: “Within a couple of days the antisocial behaviour ramped up to an uncontrollable level.
“Vandals decided to see how far they could push some of the play equipment to see if they could get it to break.
“They then proceeded to break equipment and remove it and throw it away, so we had to make the heart-breaking decision to close the park.”
After another bout of vandalism, Mr Mackie recalls a toddler group asking for access to the park via the caretaker.
While the group was allowed in, the Peterhead park was a mess, with one of the upset toddlers asking if they had to go somewhere else, declaring Victoria Park was their “favourite”.
CCTV cameras are being suggested as an option to deter vandals from causing damage as they could be identified, but Mr Mackie says they shouldn’t be necessary.
Mr Mackie added: “There’s a lot of good happening in Peterhead, but it is being blackmarked by the behaviour and antics of certain individuals hell bent on causing destruction.”
Police investigate Victoria Park damage
Due to the numerous incidents of vandalism, police officers have launched an investigation asking anyone with information to help catch the vandals.
Inspector Rory Campbell described the ongoing situation at Victoria Park in Peterhead as “disheartening” for the community.
He added: “There has been significant funding raised in order to create this space and the cost for repairs is causing a significant impact on the group and the community.”
Police have asked anyone with information about damage caused to the park to contact them to allow it to be enjoyed by all in the town.
Aberdeenshire Council has been contacted to comment.
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