Council 'cannot keep repairing vandal hit park'

A new area of the rubber surfacing has been damaged at the park

Repairs to rectify a "long history of vandalism" at a popular play park are becoming too costly, a council has said.

Castle Park Playground in Backworth, North Tyneside, has been targeted by repeated vandalism since the early 2000s.

Repeated incidents led North Tyneside Council to install a durable surface designed to cover and protect damaged areas of the playground at a cost of £16,000.

But the council says a new area of rubber surfacing has recently been ripped, causing a small deep hole.

They said the new surfacing had so far "withstood attempts to damage it, including efforts to melt it using electric scooters".

Although the hole was being fixed, the council said the authority did not have the budget to "carry out ongoing repairs of this scale".

The site had its play area removed in 2007 after continuous damage became too expensive to maintain, with a new playground added in 2013.

The council says they have spent £16,000 on new surfacing to prevent damage

Castle Park is overlooked by homes and regularly used by dog walkers, families and people travelling to and from bus stops nearby, but the council said the incidents were "rarely reported".

Hannah Johnson, cabinet member for the environment, said: "Play areas are incredibly important to local families so it's really frustrating to see them damaged, especially repeatedly.

"A significant amount of resources has been invested in this site over recent years to address ongoing issues.

"Continued vandalism not only undermines these efforts but also places additional strain on maintenance and repair services.

"We are committed to keeping the playground a safe and enjoyable space for everyone."