Mean vandals have damaged a unique 16-seat wooden bench that was installed in January this year at Highbridge’s Apex Park.
Sections of the seating supports and upward wooden slats have been broken and deliberately ripped from the frame, Sedgemoor District Council said this week.
The council said it is “saddened” by the incident and it has asked for any witnesses to contact police.
The £800 circular woodland walk seating area was unveiled in January with the project being led by the Friends of Apex Park alongside Sedgemoor District Council. Bridgwater College carpentry students expertly designed, made and installed the seating.
Burnham-On-Sea Police are interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen two males who were wearing purple T-shirts in the woodland seating area on Tuesday afternoon (21st April) between roughly 2.45pm and 3pm. Sedgemoor Districts Council’s CCTV team are also assessing local footage.
A council spokeswoman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The affected area has been assessed and cordoned off as necessary. We had hoped to complete some immediate minor repairs on Wednesday, but due to the nature of the damage this has not been possible.”
“As more expert repair is required, estimates to ascertain the cost of the damage will need to be completed before a full repair can take place. Whilst we have left as much of the seating area open as possible we would like to apologise to any park visitors unable to use the woodland seating area during this time – such acts are beyond the councils control. The vandalism is particularly disappointing given the effort of local students to build and install the much-used seating area.”
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police added: “Anyone with information about this incident can contact us on 101 and quote ref: 40479/15. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
