28 February 2008
Two new sculptures erected in Bargoed Park recently have been destroyed by mindless vandals.
The "We'll Meet Again" sculpture trail, designed by local artist Rubin Eynon, is a community project designed to improve the local area and its facilities, but recently two of the sculptures have been subjected to considerable vandalism.
So severe is the extent of the vandalism that one of the six sculptures installed in the park was completely snapped off at the base, with this sculpture now broken beyond repair.
Caerphilly County Borough Councils Parks Services and the local community worked together to design an easily accessible and interesting trail to encourage older people to make use of Bargoed Park, and the "We'll Meet Again" sculpture was to be the impressive centrepiece.
Caerphilly County Borough Councils cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Tudor Davies said, "It is appalling that an immensely attractive sculpture such as this has fallen victim to mindless vandalism. The sculpture was designed and erected as a means of further improving an already impressive park in our local community and it is just such a shame that a small minority of people are spoiling the enjoyment and pleasure the sculpture brings for everyone else."
Repairs have now been made to the vandalised sculpture.
Youth annoyance in Bargoed Park is a current PACT (Partnerships and Communities Together) priority for the Bargoed Ward. Gwent Police and Caerphilly County Borough Council's Community Safety Partnership are working in partnership to increase patrols of the park and provide a mobile CCTV presence in an attempt to eradicate problems from occurring.
Inspector Paul Staniforth, said: "Youth annoyance in Bargoed Park is currently a PACT priority for the area. We are working with Caerphilly County Borough Council to increase patrols and surveillance of the park to help eradicate the problems that are being experienced by local residents. We have already had some positive feedback from residents about the effect this has had, but clearly criminal activity such as vandalism will not be tolerated. If anyone has any information about criminal activity occurring in Bargoed Park, I would ask them to report it to Gwent Police."
If anyone has any information about criminal activity or youth disorder taking place in Bargoed Park, please contact Gwent Police on 01633 838 111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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