Vandals caused £10k damage to bus shelters

 

VANDALS caused more than £10,000 worth of damage to bus shelters across Carmarthenshire last year.

 

The total repair bill to the council – and therefore taxpayers – for 2010/11 was £10,892.50, money that could have been better spent on other essential services.

Now the Executive Board is warning that with the current economic climate there is simply no budget this year to carry out this scale of repair work.

In total, there are 530 bus shelters across the county and unfortunately they are common target for vandals.

Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Philip Hughes said: “Bus shelters are

important to communities but unfortunately acts of vandalism are increasing and we just don’t have the budget to keep on carrying out the repairs.

“We are appealing to the public to please help by reporting any incidents of vandalism to the police immediately. All we can do is remain vigilant and try to reduce the problem as much as possible.”

The council will try to make safe any damaged bus shelters, but if they are in a dangerous condition they may have to be removed altogether.

Executive Board Member for Corporate Property and local member for Garnant Cllr Kevin Madge condemned a number of attacks carried out to bus shelters in his ward.

He said: “It is the minority that cause the damage, but the majority of people that have to suffer as bus shelters are important facilities to both residents and visitors to the county.

“I was shocked to learn how much the council spent last year on repairing the damage caused by vandals and I’m sure taxpayers will be just as angry that this money has been wasted in this way when it could have been spent elsewhere.”

Residents are being urged to report any vandalism to the police as soon as possible so that those responsible can be caught and punished and to deter any further attacks. If you have any information please call police on 101.

CAPTION: Cllr Kevin Madge and Cllr Philip Hughes survey the damage caused to a bus shelter in Garnant.

Picture: Jeff Connell.