‘We won’t let the thugs win’ vows council leader
DON’T let the thugs win.
That was the defiant message from the leader of Wokingham Town Council following a catalogue of Christmas crime in the borough.
Wokingham’s Christmas tree was trashed twice over the festive period causing thousands of pounds of damage.
Car windscreens were smashed in Norreys, windows were broken and splashed with paint and there were three late nights assaults in the town last month alone.
However, Wokingham Town Council leader Cllr Dave Davies emphasised that Wokingham was a “great place to live” and vowed the vandals would not win.
“What has happened over the festive season has been unusual and does not reflect the vast majority of good people who live and visit here,” he said.
“Over Christmas we suffered acts of mindless vandalism to the town Christmas Tree, as well as smashing of a window of the Red Lion, daubing of paint on Berkshire Windows and many other incidents of anti-social behaviour.
“I am appalled that vandals feel that they can perform these awful acts and do appeal for anyone with any information on these events to me forwards to us or the police.”
Cllr Davies said he understood many residents would be concerned at the recent crime wave.
“Following discussions with Julian McGhee-Sumner, the leader of Wokingham Borough Council, we will be working in the New Year to identify what can and should be done as two councils working together, in providing CCTV cover in the town centre.
“Historically this was removed due to the costs of maintaining and monitoring, and the quality of the images, but we will look at all options to provide value for our constituents and hope to be able to expand on the CCTV that the Town Council currently operate to prevent graffiti.
“In addition we will be challenging the police to increase their presence in the town as a whole and work with them to understand and address the cause of these incidents.
“More than anything I have been moved by the support shown by the Town against these senseless acts, and the efforts by public and councillors in doing what can be to not let them win by fixing the fences and mending the tree.
“Despite this mindless vandalism it is important to remember that Wokingham remains a great place to live.
“We are still a market town, albeit one that had grown in recent years in part because of this appeal.”
And in a defiant message to the vandals, Cllr Davies added: “As a town we are stronger than any vandal, and we will not be bowed by this and we WILL be back next year with an even better tree.”