Vandals and fly-tippers could have caused thousands of pounds of damage to play equipment in Mill O’ Mains park.
This week a sofa dumped in Mill O’ Mains was taken into the playpark and set alight below brand new children’s play equipment.
Dundee City Council is still counting the cost of the damaging blaze as residents and councillors slam the administration for not taking swifter action on fly-tipping.
The abandoned sofa was spotted by residents and Councillor Brian Gordon notified the council’s teams to come and uplift the item.
However, it was torched before they got there.
Resident Jim Malone said: “I was out in Mill O’ Mains Park on Tuesday night and I saw that fly-tippers had left a settee and a chair there.
“There’s a load of new play equipment beside it, so I reported it to the police because I knew someone would set fire to it.
“I rang the number and the guy said he would deal with it.
“I came home on Wednesday and it was still there at 4pm.”
Mr Malone continued: “The kids were coming out into the park and I knew they would set it on fire, so I phoned the cleansing department and there was no reply.
“I got in touch with Brian Gordon the councillor and told him there’s equipment in that playground and if the stuff isn’t lifted it’s not going to be good, so he said he’d contact rapid response.
“So, of course, later that night someone sets fire to the settee.
“I can’t believe I reported it the day before, it’s lying beside all this brand new equipment, thousands of pounds worth, and it’s now in ashes.”
Mr Gordon said: “It was obvious this would happen and I will be asking why the council didn’t listen to me, and to residents, and get it uplifted.
“There is a lot of damage, and it will all need to be replaced I think.
“There was a tyre swing which has been completely ruined by the fire.
“It could have been avoided, and someone could have been hurt.
“The remains have now been recovered, but there would have been mangled metal in the wreckage, including sharp springs and things that shouldn’t be in a children’s park.”
Craig Melville, convener of Dundee City Council’s environment committee, said: “I cannot condemn in strong enough terms this type of inconsiderate vandalism.
“Young children and their parents in the area who enjoy the play equipment are now being denied access to it at the height of the summer when it is used most.
“We are assessing the damage to find out what the best thing to do now is.”