AN ABBEY Meads play park has been closed by the council after yet another act of vandalism rendered it unusable.

Last weekend, parents who regularly take their children to the Bergman Close play park, situated on the Abbey Meads/Penhill boundary, were horrified to see the floor had been torn up and debris left scattered everywhere.

The play park was only resurfaced last month, and the recent act of vandalism is the last straw for the council.

A spokesman from Swindon Borough Council said: “This play park was installed for the enjoyment of local children, yet vandals have repeatedly damaged it to the extent that the playing area surface is now beyond repair.

“We have visited the park on a weekly basis over the course of the last month to make repairs that have cost £400 on each occasion.

“This blatant destruction cannot continue and we have closed the park in the meantime, while a decision over its long-term future takes place.”

The decision to close it will no doubt disappoint parents and children who use it on a regular basis.

It is not yet known who is responsible for causing the damage, but locals have placed the blame firmly at the door of gangs of youths who routinely cross the bridge into Abbey Meads from Penhill.

Dog walker Jacqueline Hartson, 47, who lives just a three minute walk from the play park, said: “You often see groups of youngsters roaming around at night. They come across the bridge from Penhill.

“I’m not surprised that the play park has been damaged, it’s always a target for vandals. I think it’s very unfair that the majority have to suffer for the actions of a stupid and selfish minority.”

There was some initial confusion surrounding which authority was responsible for the park.

The Haydon Wick Parish Council thought it under the jurisdiction of Central Swindon North, who in turn thought it belonged to Blunsdon, who thought the responsibility actually lay with St Andrews.

But Swindon Borough Council have confirmed that the play park was not passed to a parish council during the recent handing down of certain responsibilities.