Council addresses vandalism at Rhyl sites

Denbighshire County Council has condemned recent acts of vandalism at two public sites in Rhyl.

Council officers recently discovered damage to well-being gym equipment installed at the Drift Park.

The new play area at the Drift Park was opened last September. It was built with accessibility and inclusivity in mind and features an inclusive wheelchair roundabout, a range of nautical themed inclusive play panels, ocean themed seesaw, and large pirate ship themed slide with accessible stairs. The new park features over 55 play features and can accommodate 170 users.

Outdoor gym and exercise equipment for adults were also installed, next to the park, which was also incorporated as part of the larger sea defence work project, along with the new Drift Park Play Area.

Upon recent inspect following several reports of vandalism, service officers found part of the gym equipment on the site had been damaged and removed. Every effort is being made to replace the damaged equipment prior to the Easter holidays.

Vandalism was also recently discovered at the rear of the Sun Verge pub ,which led to an access barrier only recently installed needing to be replaced

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “The deliberate damage to this equipment at the Drift Park is both unacceptable and deeply disappointing, particularly when these facilities are provided for the health benefit of local residents and visitors to Rhyl.

“Acts like this do not just spoil a valued community asset, they also place an unnecessary financial burden on the Council due extra costs repairing vandalised equipment that we could use elsewhere to improve other local facilities.

“We are urging anyone who may have witnessed vandalism at the Drift Park or at the Sun Verge site to report it to North Wales Police. Protecting our community facilities is a shared responsibility, and vandalism will not be tolerated by the Council.”