Football club volunteers have urged vandals not to get kicks from causing damage at their home ground in the heart of a Penrith community.
Wetheriggs United initially used social media on May 29 to appeal for information after two picnic benches were set alight at Castletown Rec. Both had been put in place for all members of the public to use.
Other damage has been reported since. And earlier this week, the Westmorland League club published a photograph of more fire damage, describing “three in three weeks now” and saying that CCTV of individuals had been sent to police.
The club plays its matches at Castletown Rec and has carried out a raft of improvements — thanks to grants, fundraising and voluntary work by club members — to a community centre at the site which it looks after for all local people.
Pre-pandemic, it had been a hub for a whole range of activities and celebrations involving people of all ages. It is hoped bingo, dance and slimming classes and parties will all return and team up with the football club’s use of the centre.
But in the meantime, Wetheriggs chairman Barry Turner has appealed for those intent on causing damage to think carefully about the impact on others.
“It’s a bit soul destroying when you try and do these things and then this happens,” said Mr Turner.
“The centre has been used by people of all ages. We want to get back to where we were before the pandemic and have it available for people who’d like to hire it.”
And Mr Turner’s message to vandals was a simple one: “Please be aware what you’re doing. The damage that you’re causing involves things that other locals in the area make use of and, hopefully, you might be able to join in with in due course.”
A Cumbria police spokesman said a report of a pallet on fire, close to the pavilion, was received at 2.45am on Sunday. Officers attended but firefighters did not as it was a small blaze. Police stopped and searched a teenager seen leaving the scene but nothing was found.
“We would urge anyone with information about this incident or any other anti-social behaviour in the area to contact police,” said the spokesman.
Details can be given online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit, by phone on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
