CHILDREN have been left devastated after “mindless” vandals caused £10,000 worth of damage by setting a popular play area ablaze.
Much of the park, in Stour Road, Harwich, was left blackened and damaged after a wooden pirate ship went up in flames.
Mark Sturch, of Canning Street, was on his way to work at 3.20am on Saturday when he noticed the strong stench of smoke.
He said: “The ship is plastic coated wood so it was a horrible smell. I drove around the corner and saw the park was on fire. It was well-alight - the flames were quite high. My first thoughts were about the nearby tree and houses - it is quite a built up area. I dialled 999.”
Mr Sturch, 50, who works at Harwich International Port, added: “It is such a shame, the park has been there for five years or more and has never been vandalised.
“There is anger, as a lot of people use it. It is especially popular with younger kids because of the equipment.”
Harwich councillor Ivan Henderson said the damage had been reported to Tendring Council, which owns and maintains the park.
Cllr Henderson said: “It is absolutely dreadful It is a well-used and much-needed park for that area. It is sad for all those parents and young children that someone has done this. The younger children especially will be devastated. It is mindless vandalism plain and simple. As soon as I heard about this I reported it to the council and it is being investigated. The pirate ship will be replaced. There are ongoing issue with anti-social behaviour from a certain element living in Bathside going back several months. I am asking police to take action. I think residents have had enough and this is too far.”
Michael Talbot, Tendring councillor responsible for environment, said investigations were underway and urged witnesses to contact police or the council.
He said: “Hopefully it will not be necessary to close off the whole play area but we will know more once we have made a site visit and assessed the situation.”
Thu 12 October
CHILDREN have been left devastated after “mindless” vandals caused £10,000 worth of damage by setting a popular play area ablaze. Much of the park, in Stour Road, Harwich, was left...
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News from local LABOUR
Press release
Ivan re-selected for county council seat
A packed meeting of Harwich and District Branch Labour Party last night unanimously re-selected Ivan Henderson to be Labour’s candidate in next May’s election for Essex County Council.
Ivan is the sitting Essex County Councillor for the Harwich Division and Labour members congratulated him for his energy, commitment and strong voice standing up for local needs against the Conservative controlled county council.
Pam Morrison, vice chair of Harwich Branch Labour Party, says
“Whenever the Conservatives are in charge Harwich becomes the poor relation and it is at these times that we desperately need a strong voice at County Hall. Ivan is providing that strong voice and it is important that he continues to do so.”
Ivan Henderson is the present leader of the Labour Group on Essex County Council and has led Labour’s opposition to the Conservative proposals for the Fire Service that would remove full time fire-fighters from Dovercourt Fire Station.
Ivan Henderson says
“I am very grateful to local Labour colleagues for again placing their trust in me and for working alongside me on many important issues. If it wasn’t for local Labour councillors and local Labour members the Conservatives would be making even deeper cuts on the Harwich Peninsula. It is only Labour standing up for the needs of Harwich and Dovercourt.”
For further information please contact
Ivan Henderson on 07889 367822
Thu 20 October
News from local LABOUR Press release Ivan re-selected for county council seat A packed meeting of Harwich and District Branch Labour Party last night unanimously re-selected Ivan...
Cllr Henderson, leader of the Labour group at ECC, has yesterday written to Council Leader David Finch, asking about the County's plans regarding the UK's exit plan from the EU.
Dear Cllr Finch
Following the decision taken by the voters of the UK to leave the European Union there will undoubtedly be significant implications for our local economy.
From the outset it was acknowledged that the outcome of the vote was going to be very tight so I am sure that you have arranged for contingency plans to be drawn up to support local businesses and jobs whichever way the vote went.
In order to promote stability within the economy of the Tendring District will you now immediately implement the plan drawn up in the event of a vote to leave and also publish it to reassure residents that all possible action is being taken to protect local jobs and businesses?
Kind regards
Tue 28 June
Cllr Henderson, leader of the Labour group at ECC, has yesterday written to Council Leader David Finch, asking about the County's plans regarding the UK's exit plan from the EU....
