Vandals burn Glasgow West End playpark causing £25k damage

They torched the equipment at Houldsworth Street in Anderston, on February 25, just four years after a £50,000 upgrade.

The play area was damaged extensively and a popular mini climbing frame in the shape of a train was destroyed in the fire.

This comes weeks after we reported that a similar structure on Bonnyholm Avenue in the Southside was damaged on two separate occasions in January, following a £160,000 refurb months before.

A swing, a conical climbing frame and a see-saw were all vandalised.

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A local said: “It was so awful to see the playground on fire. What kind of thug sets fire to a children’s play park?

"At first, it looked like the fire brigade might have been there early enough to save some of it but it ended up being completely burned out.

“There were several young children watching it go up in flames too – that must have been heartbreaking for them.

“I hope they catch whoever did it. It was completely mindless vandalism.”

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow’s convener for neighbourhood services and assets, said: “I cannot fathom why anyone in their right mind would do this.

"That expensive piece of equipment was installed in the heart of the community for the enjoyment of little children.

"It is absolutely galling that the time, effort and money put into the project has been destroyed for no reason other than sheer badness. It is a blow to the community and heartbreaking for the children who loved the train.

“A total of 133 Glasgow play parks are due to be refurbished by the council over the next five years at a cost of £6 million, but there is no endless pot of money to continually replace equipment destroyed by vandals.

“The play park in Houldsworth Street is surrounded by housing, I’d urge anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area or who knows who is responsible for the fire to contact the police immediately and help them catch those responsible for this criminal and antisocial behaviour.”