Teenage gangs are terrorising toddlers at a new £500,000 Angus park, it has been claimed.
Footage of youths abusing expensive play equipment, shouting vile abuse and tearing past small children at the West Links in Arbroath has been sent to The Courier by an outraged local grandmother.
The woman, who asked not to be named, witnessed large groups of teens, aged around 15 to 17, cycling over newly-installed trampolines, riding bikes down a slide and performing back flips just metres away from children as young as two.
She said two separate gangs were at the park on Saturday and Monday, stopping her three-year-old grandson from using the equipment.
”Both days there were problems with big lads being boisterous, shouting and swearing and jumping all over the new equipment. They were stopping the little ones from getting on anything and twice they nearly knocked my grandson down on their bikes.
”It’s not on at all. This play park is not designed for them and they are going to end up breaking it. It is not a safe environment for young ones to play in.”
The teenagers were captured on video and in pictures circling the park on bikes and climbing a decorative wall.
Toddlers are seen waiting for a turn on the trampoline while the youths attempt acrobatics and young children can be seen running away scared as bikes speed past.
Arbroath councillor David Fairweather said he was aware of the anti-social behaviour and had already taken steps towards addressing it.
”I have been shown pictures and video regarding the behaviour of these teenagers and I am totally disgusted,” he said. ”If this continues the park will be destroyed before we get through the winter, never mind getting through to next summer.
”They just seem to think they can do what they like and have shown a total disregard towards youngsters wanting to use the new play equipment. These are not children we are talking about they are 15 to 17-year-olds commandeering equipment that was not designed for them.”
The West Links play park was vandalised just two days before it was officially unveiled to the public last week. Vandals pulled up a heavy stone ludo piece that was fixed to the ground.
Mr Fairweather had a meeting with the council’s director of neighbourhood services, Ron Ashton, and members of the West Links Partnership to discuss the damage
A CCTV system is now to be installed at three locations covering the area alongside signs warning that anyone caught misusing or vandalising equipment will be prosecuted.
Mr Fairweather said: ”Hopefully these deterrents will stop the nonsense of the few who seek to spoil the park for those it was intended.
”I hope that decent members of the public, the council and the police will not accept their behaviour and that those responsible for any misdemeanours will be held accountable.”