Market Drayton Town Council is working with the police to improve a town play area recently targeted by vandals.
Plans to re-open the Grotto Road play area have moved a step closer after council officials confirmed that a new street light would be installed to help deter vandalism.
Around £900 worth of damage was caused in two separate incidents at the end of April when fences, swings and CCTV cameras were all attacked.
The play area was closed while police inspected the site with town councillors, including former Market Drayton mayor Councillor Rob Bentley.
Its future was discussed at a council meeting last week where calls were made for fencing to be replaced.
Town clerk Edward Davies said: “We’ve had two meetings with various officers from West Mercia Police who are now going to produce a report with recommendations on what we can do to improve the area.
“These will be subject to town councillors’ decisions and funding being available but, in the meantime, we’re going ahead with a plan to change the street light in that area.
“It will be put up in the next week or two for the police to attach their CCTV recording equipment as and when they feel necessary.”
During last Thursday’s meeting, councillors also expressed concern that despite efforts to improve security and the appearance of the play area, no-one had been convicted of vandalism.
Market Drayton mayor Councillor Roy Aldcroft said: “The town council is doing an awful lot of work to provide landscaping, fencing and CCTV cameras but so far, in my time on the council, we’ve not had one prosecution.”
Inspector Sarah Wagstaff said she was “keen” to work with the town council to protect the play area from vandalism.
She said: “Our Architectural Liaison Officer is looking at all the things that are going to assist the town council but we’ve got to sort out the environmental issues that are there.”
“It’s very early days but he will deliver quite a comprehensive report as he’s had a lot of input already.
“We’re very keen to work with the town council to make the play area better because it’s awful that it should be damaged.”
By Winston Brown
