Wave of attacks on emergency equipment could cost lives

WATER feature vandals are putting lives at risk across Carmarthenshire by wrecking live saving aids on the threshold of school summer holidays.

Despite several appeals and stepped patrols by rangers and police 35 B-lines and lifebelts have been stolen or spoiled in four months. Three have been destroyed in Burry Port Woodlands this week. Ranger Andrew Jenkins found two B-lines shredded. The safety lines had been cut up and dangled in trees.

The brightly coloured life saving equipment has gone missing or been destroyed in a wave of attacks at Loughor, Sandy Water Park, Llanstephan and Glanaman and Swiss Valley.

Carmarthenshire council executive board member for leisure services, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “This is a worrying trend of destructive and life threatening vandalism. So close to the start of the summer holidays it is a tragedy in the making.

“We will be working with the police to stop this mindless vandalism.

“Someone could find themselves in difficulty and there will be no rescue aids available because of these hooligans.

“I would appeal to anyone who sees anything suspicious around these rescue aids which are brightly posted around our ponds, rivers and seaside attractions to call the police immediately.

“We have to stamp out this vandalism before someone is killed.”

The police said they will prosecute anyone found tampering with the equipment.

The B-lines are contained in lifebelt shaped bright orange containers near all the county’s coastal attractions and lakes, park enclosed rivers and water features. There are nine around Llanelli’s nine-acre North Dock water sports recreational facility.

Park rangers check all the life saving stations on a daily basis – there are 74 between Bynea and Burry Port Harbour where there are an additional 20. Any found missing or tampered with are replaced.

They contain 25 metres of lightweight floating rope attached to a bright yellow torpedo shaped float. They are for the sole use in an emergency of rescuing people in difficulty in the water.

MCP Park manager Rory Dickinson said: “We have a duty of care to replace all the lifesaving equipment spoiled or stolen immediately they are found missing. They cost £90 apiece.

“Rangers and water bailiffs patrol their placement areas daily.

“ The life saving aids have been attacked from Sandy Water Park in Llanelli to Glanaman’s Riverside Walk. Even Llanstephan has been hit.

“Some of the aids are thrown into the tide or rivers and rangers and water bailiffs have found them strung through trees and have even seen swings constructed out of them.”

CAPTION: LIFE SAVERS: Ranger Andrew Jenkins with the remains of B-lines shredded and strung through trees at Burry Port and a fully equipped life aid station – one of nine around Llanelli’s North Dock. Pix Ron Cant.