Park fire will leave lasting damage
A COUNCIL fears that the cost of repairs to a fire-ravaged countryside park could be far higher than the £6,000 raised by volunteers to overcome its last arson attack.
A blaze started deliberately by vandals on Friday, May 25 severely damaged the boardwalk, viewing platform and a bridge across a stream at Newmillerdam Country Park. Such was the fire’s ferocity that several nearby trees were also damaged.
Wakefield Council, which will work with the park’s friends group to carry out repairs, said yesterday that the damage which had been caused would be “lasting”.
A council spokesperson said: “Council officers are going down there with the Friends of Newmillerdam Country Park this week to assess the full damage.
“We don’t know the full costs or the timescale of the repairs yet, but the damage extends far greater than last time when it cost the Friends group £6,000 to carry out repairs.”
A previous arson attack in 2016 completely destroyed the boardwalk and viewing platform.
Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for environment and communities Coun Maureen Cummings described the destruction as “an absolutely appalling act of mindless vandalism” and urged the public to report any information about the latest fire to police.
Coun Cummings said: “The fire has destroyed local wildlife, badly damaged several trees and has spoiled this area of the park for visitors. It has been reported to the police and we ask anyone with any information to contact them.”