MEMBERS of Langlee Residents Association are calling on the community to help decide the future of its vandal-hit Jubilee playpark.

As revealed in last week’s Border Telegraph, the playpark in Beech Avenue has been targeted by vandals and could be closed if the damage continues.

And now the chairwoman of the group has admitted she doesn’t know where to turn, after yobs trashed the state-of-the-art equipment during the Easter holidays.

Judith Cleghorn said: “Where do we go from here? We said at the last meeting we would close the park if it happened again and as your paper was going to press, it happened.

“It is so disheartening. I don’t know where we could get the money to repair it, or if we even should. There’s nothing stopping this from happening again.

“I have grandchildren and I wouldn’t let them play here. Children with special needs were also coming to use the park as a treat and they can’t do that now.

“I am so disappointed. Everyone knows how excited we all were when it first opened. It was a lovely place.”
During the latest attack, vandals dug out the flooring, spray painted graffiti on the equipment and seemingly urinated on the slide.

Ms Cleghorn added: “We don’t have the money to fix this and don’t understand why people are doing it. What is the point of the graffiti?

“This is going to cost around £1,500 to repair and we really need to seek advice on it. We don’t know where we can get the money from. We can’t keep asking people for it.

“This park has only been open five years and it had state-of-the-art equipment. Every year we have had to repair something.”

The group has also tried to get extra lighting for the park, but have been quoted £2,000.

Gerry Moss, who is a member of the association added: “Throwing money at it is not the answer. We can’t be the only playpark to have suffered this, so we need advice on what is the best thing to do. We can’t leave it like this.”

Litter-pickers have also been out in force to clean up the debris left in the area.

One told us: “We spend about two to two-and-a-half days a week here to try and keep on top of the area, picking up the litter and tidying it up and now you just start to expect it [the vandalism] with it being the school holidays.”

Inspector Tony Hodges of Galashiels police told us: “We’ve been made aware of vandalism to Jubilee Park in Langlee and are now conducting enquiries into this. 

“Members of the local community have worked together to create and maintain this area for the enjoyment of all residents, and such mindless damage is completely unacceptable. 

“I’d urge anyone with information about this to contact Police Scotland via 101 or report this anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Langlee Residents Association is asking for the local community’s views at its next meeting. 

It will take place on Tuesday, May 2, at 7pm in the Langlee Community Centre in Marigold Drive.