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Pool damaged in spate of park vandalism

Jasmine Lowe,in Molescroftand
Grace McGrory,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Shirley Henry/BBC A wooden fence has some of its panels removed due to damage. Behind it you can see a black railing and a yellow railing higher up and a blue turquoise outdoor small pool behind it, with metal fencing around it. Trees in a park can be seen behind it.Shirley Henry/BBC
The pump house at the paddling pool in Pickering Park in Hull was broken into on Wednesday evening, according to Humberside Police

A paddling pool that is expected to reopen next month after a six-figure refurbishment has been damaged.

Humberside Police said it received reports the pool's pump house in Pickering Park on Hessle Road in Hull had been broken into and the fence allegedly damaged at about 20:35 BST on Wednesday.

Emma Hardy, the MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, said on social media the damage was "incredibly frustrating and disappointing" with the community having "waited so long" for the pool to reopen.

Hull City Council, however, said it was still on track to reopen the pool in time for the summer holidays.

The water play area has been closed since 2023 and is undergoing a £550,000 redevelopment.

Humberside Police said its inquiries "remain ongoing to establish the circumstances around the report".

The council said it would support police with any investigations.

BBC / Jasmine Lowe The photo shows a man looking at the camera. He's wearing a green polo shirt. He's standing in front of a play park. There is a purple climbing wall behind his left shoulder, and a swing behind his right shoulder. It is also fenced off with silver railings. BBC / Jasmine Lowe
Andrew Saint, manager of Molescroft Pavilion, says there have been several incidents of damage at the site over the past few months

It comes as other parks have also been damaged, including the playing field on Woodhall Way in Beverley.

Andrew Saint, 65, who manages the Molescroft Pavilion on the site, said the damage had been caused by a small minority, adding: "Unfortunately, it affects everybody."

Saint, who has worked at the pavilion for 16 years, said litter and smashed glass bottles were also problematic and would get worse during the summer months.

He added: "We can't be here 24/7. It's an impossibility. It's very frustrating."

BBC / Jasmine Lowe The photo shows two swings. The one closest to the camera has had its edge burnt away. BBC / Jasmine Lowe
Vandals have previously tried to rip out tree guards in the park

Katie Horsefield, 31, who visits the park with her young children, expressed her anger at the damage.

"If things are being vandalised it's not safe for the children, for the dogs and it means that someone else has a clean-up job on their hands," she said.

Councillor Adrian Costello, chairman of Molescroft Parish Council, said: "We're not an incredibly rich council and [when damage occurs] do we get it repaired, do we get it replaced or do we just remove it completely?"

BBC / Jasmine Lowe The photo shows a man looking at the camera. His arms are folded across his chest. He's wearing a blue polo shirt. He's standing in a play area in front of some swings. There is also a slide, lots of grass, and a picnic bench behind him. BBC / Jasmine Lowe
Councillor Adrian Costello says repairing the damage can be costly for the parish council

Nearby Woodmansey Parish Council, which manages Victoria Park, off Normandy Avenue, said it was aware of recent vandalism in the playground, which was being addressed.

Holme Upon Spalding Moor Parish Council said in a social media post that its play park had suffered "mindless vandalism" over the weekend of 13 and 14 June.

It wrote: "A piece of equipment has been damaged beyond repair, rubbish was left scattered across the area."

Councillor Ted Dolman, portfolio holder for communities at Hull City Council, said the authority was looking at a number of ways it could tackle the issue.

He said: "Residents can't enjoy the spaces that they should be able to enjoy."

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