DESTRUCTIVE youngsters have vandalised their own skate park in Studley – causing £2,000 worth of damage.
Children as young as six or seven were caught on CCTV breaking down fences designed to protect the park while new tarmac set. Once inside they tore up the newly laid surface.
And while work was also taking place a fight between youths from Redditch and Studley broke out, which fed-up parish councillors believe may also have contributed to the damage.
Now they are writing to local schools asking them to tell pupils to steer clear of the skate park while re-surfacing work is redone.
Parish clerk Lesley Gailey said the park had had to be closed for five days and signs put up explaining why – but they were torn down
She said: “As soon as the contractor left the children were on the park. The fence was broken down. I saw two girls, aged about six or seven climbing on the fence.”
The newly laid tarmac was left with grooves in it from where skateboards and bikes had been ridden over it while drying.
Ms Gailey added: “It has been absolutely destroyed, and not just by riding on it, they have actually been digging it up.”
Councillors believe some more of the damage may have been caused when the fight broke out.
They also recognised the recent heatwave may have played a part in the tarmac not setting properly.
Coun Jim Bacon said: “We have had a situation which was unusual and I think the Studley lads will recognize that this work is being done on their behalf.”
