The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Vandalism ‘disturbing’ after bolt cutters used
Targeting of playpark equipment condemned as council agrees new £500,000 budget
Vandalism at a children’s play area has been slammed as “deeply disturbing”.
Levenmouth councillor Colin Davidson hit out at the “sick situation” which saw individuals armed with bolt cutters cut down a swing and destroy climbing nets at Leven beach playpark.
The Labour councillor said the damage on two separate occasions had impacted on young people and those with disabilities.
The damage was revealed as members of Fife Council’s Levenmouth area committee agreed to spend £500,000 on upgrades and refurbishments to playparks over the next few years.
The project will include £40,000 for improvements at Leven’s beach play area to enhance accessibility, replace some play equipment and refurbish the skate park.
Mr Davidson said the vandalism concerned him.
“The people who are doing it are targeting playparks, which I find deeply disturbing,” he said.
“Someone went down with bolt cutters to cut equipment down and destroy it. It’s really a sick, sick situation that people are going out to deliberately target playparks.
This isn’t kids just throwing the swings over the top. This is individuals going down to deliberately destroy equipment
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“This isn’t kids just throwing the swings over the top. This is individuals going down to deliberately destroy equipment.”
The investment in playparks across Levenmouth follows extensive consultation with the public where it was made clear that development, including the provision of adult fitness areas, was needed.
There will also be extensive work at Buckhaven foreshore, including the creation of a viewing area raised up behind the sea defences, a trim trail and new picnic tables and seats.
New play equipment will be installed at Sandwell Park, Buckhaven; Durham Park, Lower Largo; and Victoria Park, Lundin Links.
Further work will be done at Letham Glen, Kennoway Den and elsewhere, while improvements at Silverburn Park will include wheelchair access to the beach.
Equipment in some other playparks will be removed as part of a new approach to concentrate on “destination” parks.
SNP councillor Ken Caldwell, Levenmouth area committee convener, said: “Encouraging children to play outside and undertake exercise, especially when the whole family can join in, is important in terms of improvements for physical and mental health.
“These areas provide not just safe play spaces for our children but they’re important meeting places in the community and become a real benefit for local people and encourage interaction.
“Investing in these areas should increase footfall and community accessibility and raise usage levels.”