FED-up members of a Beverley sports club are hoping to step up security after a spate of vandalism attacks.
Members of the Flemingate Bowling Club fear the club’s future could be in doubt unless the damage is stopped.
The club is now trying to get funding to improve its security and this week members met local councillors and police community support of
ficers to discuss how to tackle the problem.
In an attack on the clubhouse two months ago vandals destroyed 22 of 24 windows after members had been working over the winter months to paint and reglaze them.
Since then there have been continued problems with youngsters smashing tiles from a sheltered archway.
Club secretary June Hutton said repairing the damage to the windows had cost the club hundreds of pounds which it had to pay itself, as it cannot get insurance for the wooden building.
Mrs Hutton said the club is struggling to meet the continued costs of the vandal attacks.
“We have only 30 members and we have to pay a hire charge of £1,780 for the green to the council. We are finding it very difficult and we won’t be able to carry on if this continues,” she said.
East Riding ward councillor Gary Shores described the attacks as mindless.
“One possible solution to these vandalism attacks would be to source funding for a CCTV camera to monitor the clubhouse and the green. This is a vibrant club, where members work hard to maintain the clubhouse for their own pleasure and that of visiting teams. The vandalism this time has hit them hard.
“Last year we spent a night with the PCSOs and spoke to some of the youths around the Flemingate area. One issue the youths have is that they just want somewhere to sit and ‘chill’, at present they sit in the alcove at the bowling club. We are working with the council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and hoping to purchase and site a shelter in the grounds of the Leisure Centre.”
The full article contains 348 words and appears in Beverley Guardian newspaper.
