Recent vandalism and anti-social behaviour at Sandham Gardens and the new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) has been raised at a meeting of Sandown Town Council.
Drink, drugs, vomit and chewing gum left on a sports ground, and almost £1,500 of damage from a smashed CCTV camera, are among the concerns raised.
Clerk Jennifer Armstrong told the meeting the facility was in the process of being cleaned and that the local authority had informed the police.
Ms Armstrong said
“Unfortunately, not a very nice update – last week two individuals were clearly inebriated in the park and climbed up the lamppost and bricked one of our CCTV cameras, smashing it which is going to cost a little under £1,500 to replace.
“At Sandham Gardens next to the new MUGA, we have very clear footage which is lodged with CCTV, and we will be pushing to pursue that.
“This weekend, we had a party style event where individuals climbed over the fence, let other individuals in and there was drinking, drugs, vomit and chewing gum over the surface of the MUGA.
“We are going to look at ways to try to secure the area because we think they’re letting people in through the emergency gates, but we are going to have to look at a way to minimise the damage to the pitch.”
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A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said:
“We received a report at around 15:00 on Tuesday, 17th March of a CCTV camera being damaged on Culver Parade in Sandown at sometime between 04:30 and 05:00 on Monday, 23rd February.
“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and no arrests have been made.
“Our local Neighbourhood Policing Team is working closely with Sandown Town Council to respond to reports of anti-social behaviour in this area.”
The youngsters seem to complain that there is nowhere to go and nothing to do, and yet a area for them has been provided AND … a few just seem to want to spoil it for the majority.
I understand that this area is for hire only and not open 24/7. I wish this had been clear before i made my comment.
I don’t know why they bother wasting time and money on a shit hole that is full of feral low life scum, when they know full well it will be ruined within weeks
My thoughts exactly.
Islandwide CCTV and Police walking the beat in such
areas to stop such incidents taking place.