Constant vandalism sees green space project abandoned in Grangetown

Residents have complained of motorbikes and quad vehicles being driven onto the green space

Repeated attacks by vandals have led to a green space project being abandoned by the council.

Plans to create an event space on Kingsley Field in Grangetown were dropped after fencing was repeatedly cut down, stolen and set on fire.

Redcar and Cleveland councillor Adam Brook suggested organised crime groups may use the field as an access route.

Potential new sites for the leftover fencing panels and outstanding funding are being explored, the council said.

Attempts to erect fencing around the field next to Greystone Woods had been paused for several months following a number of incidents, which included eight fence panels and a 'K' barrier being cut down and stolen, according to the Local Democracy Service.

A large CCTV column was also targeted, with the access panel being cut open and an internal control board set on fire, causing more than £30,000-worth of damage.

A junior football team was compelled to stop using the field because of the anti-social behaviour

The boundary for the fencing was then re-drawn, so as not to fence off the whole field, but just a section, with a noticeboard being erected to keep locals up to date with the project's developments, but that too was ripped down.

'Wasting money'

"We put a noticeboard up to advertise what we were doing. Literally it was installed at 10am in the morning and then cut down at 9pm at night," said Mr Brook, a Labour councillor for Grangetown ward.

"We can't continue to waste money and haemorrhage it."

He said the outcome was "very disappointing and upsetting", but added, "we have to take it on the chin".

All the stakeholders involved agreed to abort the project due to high levels of anti-social behaviour and vandalism

Redcar and Cleveland Council had committed £59,151 towards the scheme, with community organisation You Got This contributing a further £40,000.

Contractors involved in the project who have already been paid could be redirected elsewhere, but Cllr Brook stressed the original funding criteria would still need to be satisfied.

He said it was not just a case of identifying another piece of land to potentially fence off and create something from, there had to be a purpose behind the space.

• Bill of £100k to secure field plagued by disorder

"One of the things I am interested in, is fencing outside Grangetown library to provide an events space," he added.

"There's also land at the side of the Grangetown United community hub, which could be potentially fenced off to enhance the boxing there, as they do a lot of outdoor exercise - and there are other venues we could look to."

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