VANDALS RETURN TO DESTROY POND AT ROTHERHITHE ECOLOGICAL PARK

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20 October 2008

By Gavriel Hollander
gav@southwarknews.org 

VANDALS HAVE struck once again at the Stave Hill Ecological Park in Surrey Docks.

Just weeks after a series of graffiti 'tags' began to appear on a monument at the top of Stave Hill, thugs have now destroyed a nearby bench and a raised brick pond, built to house newts.

Rebeka Clark, manager of the park, was left stunned by the display of mindless violence.

"I cannot comprehend why they would go through all that effort," she said.

"They must have used a lump of concrete the size of your head to smash up the pond like that. It is completely irreparable.

"It is particularly upsetting as we have not had any vandalism here for quite some time."

A spate of graffiti tagging broke out in July on and around sculptor Michael Rizzello's monument depicting an historic map of the area. The graffiti was eventually removed by Southwark Council.

However, this attack appears to be a much more targeted effort.

"These must have been older people as young kids would not have the strength to do this," added Clark. "I have no idea what is going through their heads."

Clark dismissed suggestions that the Trust for Urban Ecology (TRUE) run park should close at night time or be fenced off as a result of such incidents.

"We discussed it, but I don't see why everyone else should lose out because of less than one per cent of the Rotherhithe population who do this type of thing."

She confirmed that the issue would be brought up at a forthcoming Safer Neighbourhoods forum, but in the meantime work at the park will continue as normal, starting with a Volunteer Day last weekend.

"We will clean up and make it good and start again," said Clark. "This just makes us more determined.

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