Yobs destroy Dudley children's park designs

Volunteers who maintain Priory Park in Dudley have been left heartbroken after the tiles were thrown around and smashed by heartless yobs.

They were laid last year as part of a project to improve access to the park's key attraction and youngsters from Priory Primary School were involved in helping to choose the designs.

The park was awarded £2.6 million in lottery funding last year, part of which was spent on a new pavilion after the old one was targeted by arsonists.

Chairman of the Friends of Priory Park group Mariann Harris said the acts of vandalism were gaining momentum.

"The police do regular patrols but you can't manage all of the park all of the time," she said. "But they are aware of what has happened.

"It is a completely open park, that's the problem. We don't have any gates or fencing which makes it vulnerable.

"It would cost a fortune to put railings in place and money is tight everywhere these days."

Mrs Harris said she was saddened by what she called a 'constant stream of petty trouble' at the park, particularly as the tiles had been made with the help of schoolchildren.

The slabs were put down to create a pathway to the historic Old Priory ruins, as the group felt it needed to be made easier for people in wheelchairs and with pushchairs to access that part of the park.

She said the friends group would 'do their best' to raise the funds to replace the tiles.

She said: "The tiles were meant to be a decorative feature.

"It is a Grade-II listed park and the tiles were meant to bring attention to the history of the park and show how clever some of the young children are and interest our visitors.

"When we get destruction and vandalism it throws a shadow over everything that has been done. It is harder to stomach when a lot of work has been put in by the local primary school.

"It is so irritating when this sort of thing happens."