Girl’s plea over damaged play equipment

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl has written an open letter to older children at Carmarthen Park pleading with them to stop using play equipment designed for smaller tots after damage was caused.

The letter was pinned to railings at the park in Morfa Lane and simply signed off by Alis in Welsh at the top and Alice at the bottom.

Her hand-written letter describes damage to the trampoline, roundabout and swings and reads: “To all large children (teenagers) using the park. I am worried you are not looking after the small children’s equipment. Already two things have been broken (trampoline, roundabout swings). Please use the equipment built for bigger children or outdoor gym equipment, as this is built for larger children. Please do not use the slide, it may crack.”

While little Alice’s letter is directed at older children, Carmarthen Town Council said adults are not blameless in damaging the children’s play equipment.

Clerk to the council Alun Harries said: “It’s a real shame that older children and indeed some adults have seen fit to damage and destroy some of the equipment at Carmarthen Park so soon after it was installed.

“Signs have been erected stating that the children’s play area should only be used by children under the age of 10 years but these are being ignored. New play equipment has been provided for older children directly opposite but they have continued to enter the smaller children’s play area during the summer.”

Mr Harries added: “During the summer a small group of older children have been intent on vandalising the equipment. We have got good CCTV footage of the people involved and all of the required information has been passed on to the local police.”