‘Substantial damage’ caused to Ballyclare play park

Numerous pieces of equipment have been damaged and human excrement was also found in the facility.

Officers from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council noticed the damage in the town’s Grange estate during their routine check yesterday afternoon (Thursday) and immediately closed the park and secured the area.

In a statement issued to this newspaper, a spokesperson for the local authority said: “The park was cleaned by officers. Substantial damage has been caused to a number of pieces of equipment and the surrounding concrete kerbing.

“The play park will remain closed until the damage has been assessed by an external contractor and the scale of repair is determined.”

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Cllr Jim Montgomery condemned the incident.

The UUP representative said: “This play park is a vital resource for the area. The children in the local community have already been deprived of this park when it was forced to temporarily close as a result of Covid-19 and now it will remain closed for another period of time until the damage is repaired.

“Those responsible for this act of vandalism have no thought for the community and I would appeal to anyone in the local area who has any information to contact the PSNI.”

Cllr Montgomery’s party colleague, Ballyclare representative, Cllr Vera McWilliam has also hit out at those responsible.

Speaking to the Times, Cllr McWilliam said: “I am absolutely disgusted. To use the park as a toilet like this is shocking.

“The people who have done this have no thought for the community at all. The park was locked up and it appears a hammer has been used to break the lock to get in and smash the equipment and kerbing.

“It looks like it will be weeks before the young people of the area will be able to use this facility again.

“I would urge anyone with information to report it to police on 101.”

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