Vandals target flagpole and new tree at Memorial Park
A PARKS group chairman has hit out at those responsible for a recent spate of vandalism.
Ian Wilkinson, chairman of the Friends of Memorial Park (FOMP) group in Great Harwood, said the park has been targeted twice in recent weeks by unknown culprits.
In one incident the flagpole displaying the Union Jack was pulled from its socket and damaged as it fell on the floor. Last weekend vandals also snapped a newly planted tree which is now likely to have to be removed.
Mr Wilkinson said it is ‘very annoying and disappointing’.
He said: “We found a tree snapped and we didn’t know the cause. Obviously somebody has snapped it and it was a newly planted tree last year. It’s very disappointing that somebody has decided to do that.
“We have reported it to the council.”
Mr Wilkinson said it would be unfair to ‘point the finger at anybody’ as nobody up to now has said they have seen anything.
He added: “I think the tree is going to have to be removed as there is a cross mark on it now. It’s annoying to say the least as we’ve had a good run recently of not much vandalism in the park and then this happens.
“A few weeks ago as well we found the flagpole on the floor. They pulled it out of its socket.
“We’ve managed to reposition it and fix it to make it a lot more difficult to get out.
“Whoever did it would have had to have lifted it up a good couple of feet to get it out, it didn’t just fall over.
“Unfortunately when it fell on the floor it also broke the plastic gold dome finial at the top.
“It’s just annoying that people seem to want to do these things.”