Ex-policeman Graham Woodward, of Waterloo Road, Wellington,

voices his concerns over vandalism

MUCH has been written of late concerning whether our lovely little park should remain in local ownership or be handed to an organisation specialising in taking control of public parks like ours. There is even a very short letter in the WWN of February 24, adding to the debate.

Of course, beyond these reports never a year goes by without our park featuring in the WWN for any number of positive reasons, often via a wonderfully framed photograph or a ‘Proms in the Park’ report. It really is a little gem within our town, isn’t it? So why should it repeatedly suffer so much mindless vandalism? 

Have you seen the six-sided shelter near the Black Path entrance into the park? A short few weeks ago it was repaired and carefully repainted to leave it once again looking magnificent. It was not looking magnificent last week when, to my dejection, some recent fresh graffiti vandalism and aerosol can scorching of the new paint work on all sides had now been finished off with the smashing out of 12 panes of glass. Not one side has been spared this mindless horror. The two photographs illustrate the nature and extent of the damage caused.

But who causes such vandalism? I am going to stick my neck out here. This town suffers from cycles of anti-social behaviour from different groups of middle to older teenagers, and some just out of their teens, all sharing some or all of many depressingly common personal characteristics.

These will include a school record of under achievement in the face of the incredible opportunity available to them from our local comprehensive school. Poor or non-existent parental controls as they were growing up, continuing into their teen years. Brash arrogance, supported by a complete disdain for the accepted rules of good conduct in society. They use personal behaviours such as smashing bottles in the street, throwing down litter, and loudly using foul and degrading language in public, irrespective of the presence of adults or children within hearing. Getting drunk. Taking drugs – because it’s ‘cool’ to do so. I could go on.

Sadly, following a period of relative quiet after the last group of such teenagers finally grew up a bit, or left town, I sense the next lot are looking to make their mark, as evidenced by the vandalism to the park shelter. 

But what to do? I remember my father telling me how the magistrates in Tiverton once dealt with the sort of behaviour that causes such pointless destruction. The guilty party was sentenced to be birched, punishment which, my father said, ‘sorted the lad out’. Such punishments no longer exist in today’s society – but bye-laws do and there is a bye-law pertaining specifically to our park.

I wonder, given how this cycle of mindless vandalism repeats itself in our park, whether it may be helpful to introduce a new clause in the bye-law for the park which bans persons under 21 years of age, or not in company of responsible adults, from using this shelter? Too draconian? I do not think so, although others will doubtless disagree.

That said, perhaps I’m barking up the wrong tree here. Maybe the culprits are aggressive old age pensioners out for their morning walk looking for kicks? Perhaps loutish young mothers after dropping off their toddlers at the nearby playgroup? Dog walkers? Visitors to our town jealous of our little park? Any other ideas anyone?