Thugs set fire to play area

Playhouse destroyed by ‘senseless vandals’

FIREBUGS torched a wooden playhouse installed just 18 months ago as part of the re-imagining of Argents Mead park.

The timber structure was set alight sometime in the early hours of Saturday February 24, causing around £10,000 worth of damage.

Police have retrieved very significant CCTV footage from the borough council’s extensive town centre and Argents Mead camera network and are progressing with their investigations.

The damaged hut has been removed and the play area remains open while the council works on replacing the structure and getting the damaged safety surface repaired.

Cllr Mark Nickerson, executive member for neighbourhood services at the borough council, said: “This mindless act of vandalism has caused a great deal of damage that will cost thousands of pounds to replace.

“It is extremely sad that as well as depriving children of this much-loved and popular playhouse, the vandals have wasted the time of the fire service with this idiotic and highly dangerous act.

“We are fortunate that firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread to other equipment and nearby trees.

“We will not tolerate such senseless vandalism. We will catch the perpetrators and they will be prosecuted for this disgraceful act.”

The playground was launched last July in the Hinckley town centre park and formed part of the area’s regeneration along with the new £15 million leisure centre.

The concept was to create a motte and bailey theme to reflect the history of the site using natural materials which complemented the leisure centre and existing landscape.

Burbage-based landscape architect Ian Stemp came up with the design.