Fire attack ruins new skate park

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Tuesday 17th May 2005.

Part of a new £50,000 community park has been badly damaged in a suspected arson attack.

The blaze, which firefighters believe was started deliberately, happened at Cottingley Recreation Ground at about 1.30pm yesterday.

The seriously-damaged skate park was part of a £50,000 revamp of the children's play area, spearheaded by residents who were concerned about the lack of facilities for young people.

Children and members of a community group were involved in picking their preferred location for the recreation ground.

The refurbishment has been designed by Bradford Council's parks and landscape service. It aims provides modern facilities for youngsters aged under 11.

Councillor Simon Cooke, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "This has come as a tremendous shock to everyone in Cottingley.

"It is disappointing and extremely upsetting that something as awful as this has occurred, especially after all the hard work that has gone into the project.

"Everyone in Cottingley and the Council have worked really hard to put in place these facilities to allow young people to do something a bit more constructive with their time.

"I hope we are going to be able to put it back together again, but this is a tremendous setback for the process of improving provision for young people."

Howard Clough, of Cottingley Community Association, said: "We have fought long and hard for this facility, so this is devastating news.

"A substantial amount of money has gone into the skate park, it only opened a short while ago and now it has been vandalised."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "It was burning well when we arrived because it is made from a rubber-backed material, which retains the heat well.

"The fire totally burnt away all the top of the skate park and the down slide, which is shaped like a half-pipe.

"It took half an hour to make the site safe. One fire engine attended."

He added: "We think it was started deliberately."

Archive Home