Arson in the playground

ARSONISTS have wrecked children's playground equipment on The Diplocks estate in Hailsham, to the anger of local people.

Firefighters from Herstmonceux were called to the town council-owned Diplocks play park, just off Pine Way, at 4.30pm on Saturday.

They found a large climbing frame unit well alight, and spent twenty minutes extinguishing the flames. The equipment has had to be cordoned off, as it is now unsafe.

'This is absolutely terrible,' said Julie Keen, secretary of The Diplocks Residents' Association. 'These facilities are there for the children. It's so sad that they've been abused like this.

'Such a lot of work went into getting the park for The Diplocks. It's the only place that children in this area can come and play. Now, with the nice weather coming, it's out of bounds. I think it's a great shame.'

Petition

The park was created in February 2000 by the town council, at a cost of 12,000. Permission to build it was originally recommended for refusal by Wealden, but a petition from the residents' association helped to win an approval.

There are two sets of swings, a small activity unit for toddlers, a see-saw and a big wooden climbing unit, which was damaged. It will cost an estimated 2,000 to restore the burnt framework.

A spokesman from Hailsham Town Council confirmed that a claim for insurance money would be made, but it is not known how long it will be before the park can be used again.

Town councillor Nick Ellwood, who devised the forthcoming 51,000 street warden scheme to protect Hailsham's streets, said he was saddened by the news.

Wanton

'We work hard to improve facilities for the community, but still we get this kind of wanton vandalism,' he said. 'When the street wardens are in place, this is exactly the kind of crime they will tackle.

'At the moment, we don't get any police officers patrolling Hailsham. The wardens will make an impact on this type of petty crime.'

The town council is offering a reward of 250 to anyone who can provide information leading to the successful prosecution of these vandals.