Cannock park repairs swing into action after arson attack
Repair work has started on play equipment at a park in Cannock which was targetted by arsonists last year.
Yobs destroyed brand new equipment at the Cannock Sports Stadium site on Pye Green Road back in November.
The new play area was part of a £1.3 million investment at the site and had only opened months before in May.
Meanwhile, work to replace park equipment which was set alight by arsonists in November in Heath Hayes in a separate attack is also being done. It estimated the costs for both park's is £36,000.
Councillor Gordon Alcott, deputy leader of Cannock Chase Council, said work should only take a couple of days before it is complete.
"We are pleased to see that the work has started but at a cost of £36,000 is a lot of money for the local authority and equates to £1.50 on each tax payer's dates bill this year.
"We are including within the new installation and development of these sites CCTV cameras so that in the future if there is any vandalism it will be picked up by these cameras and reported by the police.
"The parents that used the parks on both sites originally welcomed it and thought it was fantastic - nobody was more disappointed than the children and the parents following the attack.
"They made their voices known to the council and were really angry that they'd done this damage. What they got out of it nobody knows, not only was it vandalism but criminal damage.
"We are hoping it won't take long, it's a matter of replacing them with new equipment - it should only take a couple of days."
Meanwhile, the multi-use games area at Cannock Sports Stadium is nearing completion.
Work on the derelict multi-use games area started in February and is set to be complete at the end of this month.
The multi-use games area will enable 11 to 16-year-olds to play recreational football, basketball and cricket in a purpose built floodlit area.
Councillor Christine Mitchell, portfolio leader for culture and sport, added: "I am delighted with the progress the contractors have made on the MUGA.
"The transformation is amazing and will give the opportunity for older children to play on the former stadium site.
"I am also pleased to see that the contractors have made a start on replacing the equipment on the junior play area that was fire damaged last year."
