‘Utterly disgusting’ – Readers hit out after vandal attack at sports village
RESIDENTS have spoken of their outrage, shock, anger and disappointment after vandals struck at the new £42 million Moorways leisure centre in Derby.
Graffiti has been sprayed across the building just weeks before it is due to open.
Moorways Sports Village and Water Park includes a 50-metre pool, two four-storey flumes and a water slide. It will replace Queen’s Leisure Centre, on Cathedral Road in Derby city centre, once it opens to the public.
However, it has not taken long for vandals to attack the building, spraying a large amount of brown graffiti down one side of the centre.
Workmen have set up a perimeter fence around the area, but the graffiti can still be seen.
The news of anti-social behaviour has been met with outrage by Derby Telegraph readers.
“No matter what you do in this life there are always the lowlife individuals who are out to wreck everything,” said Tyrel Ashley Edwards in one comment.
Jackie Adams added: “Why, just why? I hope they have cameras and they catch them. They should be made to clean it all. Utterly disgusting.”
Lynn Wright said: “When is society going to learn, we cannot have anything decent in this country without mindless idiots thinking it’s clever to destroy it.
“More valuable money from the communities used to repair it. Hope whoever has done this are shown to the community. They need to be named and shamed. I feel they should be made to pay.
“Trouble is all that happens is they move on to their next target.”
Derby City Council has said its officers were assisting the police in tracking down those responsible.
Steven Holland laid the blame at the parents of those responsible for the graffiti: “Just moronic behaviour from scrotes that have nothing better to do than ruin what could be a good thing for the city …. first class parenting. When caught, give the parents the bill!”
Danielle Spencer questioned why investment in the city is made when this is the result: “And people wonder why Derby looks a state. Why invest when before this has even opened it’s been vandalised?”
A spokeswoman for Derby City Council said: “We are extremely disappointed that the Moor ways Sports Village’s external cladding has been vandalised with graffiti.
“The facility is a new asset which will provide numerous benefits for the entire city and it is, therefore, a shame that individuals have chosen to mindlessly vandalise it.
“The site is a venue to be proud of and we will be cleaning up the graffiti to the exterior of the building as quickly as possible. We have an excellent contractor on board to advise and support with achieving this.
“Along with our security contractor, we are working closely with the police to assist them in identifying those responsible by sharing the information that we have.
“We would therefore encourage anyone who might have any information about the incident to contact Derbyshire police, quoting incident number 102528042022. Alternatively, residents can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”