Park cameras to catch vandals
Maidstone council has installed three CCTV cameras in Mote Park to crack down on vandals targeting its new ticket machines.
Fees were introduced in February last year, despite a petition signed by 840 people against the charges. But visitors have reported problems in finding a working ticket machine.
Ron Dunham, from Marden, said he’d struggled to find more than one functioning since last autumn. He said: “Long queues at busy times give those of us with child or dog responsibilities aggravation while taking time to find a working machine.”
A council spokesman said there had been persistent vandalism. He said: “Four of the six machines are working and we’re hopeful the other two units will be repaired imminently. We have installed CCTV.”
The 460- acre park attracts around a million visitors a year and parking fees, estimated at £171,000 a year, will go towards a new cafe and adventure zone, replacing play equipment. It costs £1 for six hours, but parking is free before 10am.