Heartbreak for children as play bus vandalised again
A Bath headteacher says she is “so frustrated” after vandals wrecked a play bus for a second time.
Vandals broke into the grounds of St Michael’s Junior Church School in Twerton and smashed the bus’s windows on Saturday night. The vehicle had been gifted by First Bus in 2019, and was previously vandalised at the end of December 2019 and cost thousands of pounds to repair.
Headteacher Clare Greene said: “I can’t believe it that it’s happened again. We had spent around £2,500 repairing it from the last time and now most of the windows have been smashed.”
The bus has been a place of outdoor play and learning for seven to 11-year-old children at the school on Newton Road.
Ms Green said: “It is such a shame, this area was being used by a bubble of students who were really enjoying it, now we’ve had to cordon off the whole area.
“Outdoor space is so important for children, especially after the last year. It has had so much impact, improving the wellbeing of the children.
“Whoever did it knew it was being used by kids. It is so mindless and pointless I do not understand why someone would do it.”
The school has relaunched a Go Fund Me page used to raise money for repairs the first time. Already, £350 has been donated.
Ms Greene said: “What is so annoying is that after all the repairs had been made the last time we had a small bit of money left over and I’ve only just used that for other resources. We put in CCTV and other security measures like a light to stop it happening the last time.”
The headteacher went on to say that the CCTV footage has been passed to the police.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Anyone who can assist our investigation [can] contact us through our website or on 101, quoting reference number 5221095969.”