Community rallies round after arsonists target Chelmsley Wood playground

ARSON: The charred remains of structures in Meriden Park's
Adventure Playground

YOUNG volunteers will help carry out repairs at Meriden Park’s Adventure Playground, after the facility was targeting by arsonists for the third time this month.

The community has rallied round after yobs set wooden shelters alight on Monday (September 22). A pit used for cooking activities was also damaged by the flames.

While the volunteers who run the playground were dismayed to discover the latest incident, they have vowed they won’t be beaten.

A team of helpers will be hard at work on Saturday, removing the charred timbers and putting the site back to working order.

There have also been many messages of support after the playground posted photos of the damage on their Facebook page.

Becky Causer wrote: “I can’t even find the words to describe how angry I feel seeing that some no hoper has ruined someone’s hard work on this project. It is a brilliant place and I have major respect for it.”

Stephen Franklin added: “I may live in Coventry, but I work in Chelmsley Wood and have a lot of time for the area.

“I think it would be a good idea to get people together to get this playground rebuilt and show how great the community is in standing together against things like this.”

Equipment was previously set ablaze on September 5 and 9, while this blog reported back in May about an arson attack on the playground’s tree house.

Following Monday’s incident, CCTV footage has been passed to Solihull Police and officers have said they will step up patrols in the area.

If you have any information about the arson attack, call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.