Vigilance calls after vandalism at Wigan beauty spot

Fences were broken and thrown in the water along with a picnic bench at the pond at Robin Hill, Standish, recently.

Parents enjoy feeding ducks and people fish in the pond, at the end of The Line at Brookfield Road.

Coun Ray Whittingham, who represents the area on Wigan Council, described the vandalism as “plain stupid.”

He said: “I’ve reported it to the council and I’ve sent photos but nothing has been done yet.

“It’s not so good what has happened and why do it?

“It spoils the pleasure and is well used by walkers and you get lots of people who go to the pond and it’s not nice them for them to walk past.

However, Coun Whittingham said the local authority needed to do something about the state of the area.

He said: “The council have neglected it and they’re supposed to be doing a new infrastructure assessment.

“There must be something done about it such as adding new walkways and cycleways .”

One resident, who asked not to be named, expressed his “disgust” at the vandalism which he suspected youths were behind.

He said: “Someone has snapped all of the fences protecting the pond overflow/stream and thrown the wood onto the pond, followed by boulders and signs from the building site. Then nicely followed by one of the picnic benches.

“I suspect given that lack of activities, a small minority of the younger generation have taken to mischief, which I understand as I was young once upon a time.

“But we cannot allow this to continue.”

Paul Ogden, from residents’ group Standish Voice, also asked people to keep an eye out for vandalism at the spot.

He said the council owns the area and litter and bad drainage has also been a problem in the past, adding that Bloor Homes have been working on the back section of the site over the past few days laying a drain associated with the nearby house-building.

A Wigan Council spokesman said: “We share residents’ frustrations when mindless vandalism occurs as it spoils our assets and is unfair on those who work hard to maintain the local community.

“We encourage members of the public to report anti-social behaviour and vandalism to the police and to the council’s safer neighbourhood team so this activity can be monitored appropriately.

“We’re incredibly proud of our greenspaces and encourage residents of all ages to help us maintain these areas so everybody can enjoy them.”

"If you are aware of anti-social behaviour, you can call 101 or email the safer neighbourhood team at [email protected]."

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