Wheelie bin set on fire at playground
VANDALS set a wheelie bin on fire and dragged it into a children’s playground last Sunday morning.
Council officials acted quickly to clean up the debris as soon as they were made aware of the matter at the community playground in Ballywaltrim.
They said that the matter has been reported to the gardai.
‘All our playgrounds are inspected on a regular basis and any damage repaired,’ said District Administrator David Forde. ‘Obviously damage caused by vandalism has an impact on our budget.’ Furthermore, the resident who’s refuse bin was used in the act will have to cover the cost of replacing it.
A hard-working and dedicated committee spent a number of years campaigning to have the playground upgraded.
Many of those committee members were instrumental in campaigning for the original instalment of the facility, almost 16 years ago.
The upgrade works were carried out in 2015, with a budget of more than €110,000.
Committee member Breda Hobbs said that overall they are very happy with the play- ground, which is being used very well. ‘We have a letter from the school to say it is being used by the children and they are very happy,’ said Breda.
She added that the schools, a youth group and the council as well as other users all play their part to keep the facility tidy and well maintained.
While lighting has been installed, the committee would like to see more cameras put in at the playground to improve security.
The committee will write to the council to ask for this to be done.
‘It would definitely have the public support,’ said Breda, who agreed that a small minority of vandals do not reflect the good will of the remaining residents of the town.
‘I live close by to the playground and every evening since New Year’s Eve... (they have) been setting the field in front of us on fire and dragging the fire brigade up to constantly put it out,’ wrote one resident on the Facebook page ‘Bray Open Forum’. ‘Looks like it’s a worrying trend of lighting fires and damaging property that has started. It’s scary and wasting emergency services’ time too.’ Anyone who noticed suspicious activity on Schools Road late on Saturday, early Sunday morning, can contact Bray Garda Station on (01) 6665300. BEACH nourishment is being carried out at the seafront in Bray to maintain flood defence at the coastline.
A machine went on-site last Friday, with shingle being moved from one end of the beach to the other.
The works should take no more than a few days, weather permitting, according to council officials.
Contractors will be relocating shingle from the southern end of the beach to the northern end to maintain the existing level of defence.
The seafront protection works initially carried out over a decade ago have greatly reduced the regularity and severity of flooding events on Strand Road.