Heartache for kids as vandals target garden
Yobs steal turf from playgroup’s new outdoor area
Heartless vandals have targeted the garden of a kids’ playgroup - just months after the youngsters were awarded £ 14,000 for the new outdoor play area.
Little Buddies at Ralston Playgroup were given a cash boost of more than £9,000 from The Big Lottery Fund, alongside £5,000 from Renfrewshire Council, to turn their dilapidated and dangerous garden into an allweather playground complete with astroturf and playhouse.
Now the playgroup has been left counting the cost of the damage after the spate of attacks left them with a hefty repair bill.
Thieves targeted the new artificial grass on August 8 and 11 and then again on Wednesday at 5am.
The yobs ripped up the turf using a cutting device to precisely remove the top layer away from the underlaying material.
Lisa Sloan, who is chair of the playgroup but also attends with her two-year-old daughter, has described the deliberate act as distressing.
She said: “On three separate occasions through the night, thieves have come and stolen the turf. It’s obvious it’s a kids’ space, no-one else uses it. “That’s what’s so bad about it. “When are they going to finish - when they’ve taken away all the turf?
“Someone has clearly walked past and seen the garden has been getting done up. The area has had a complete overhaul.
“It’s so disappointing and frustrating.”
Manager of the playgroup, Liz Rigmand, told the Express: “I’m absolutely raging. The first time we laughed it off but the second time we took it more seriously and contacted the police. For it to happen a third time is beyond belief.”
Liz added that several thousands of pounds will have to be spent if they want to repair and replace it.
She said: “It cost us about £5,000 to have the grass put down so it won’t be cheap to fix.
“But it’s not just about the money, it’s the time. A lot of work went into making this a space the whole community could use.”
The group already have CCTV in place but are planning to install security lights to deter the thieves from returning.
Liz said: “Again that’s going to cost the playgroup money that was meant to be going towards toys and activities for the children.
“We hoped the remaining fund would go towards the children and things for the garden.
“We didn’t think we would have to use it to pay to prevent people from stealing things. We never thought something like this would happen.”
Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating and asked anyone with information to contact them on 101.