ANGRY and frustrated Avon Bowls Club will be installing CCTV at their pavilion, following an ongoing vandalism problem.
A number of plant pots and slabs were smashed recently in what the club deemed the worst damage so far, leaving them counting the cost just weeks before the start of the new season.
The vandalism and criminal damage caused is the latest in a series of problems Avon Bowls Club have had to endure in recent times. The club reports similar incidents happening regularly and escalating into more severe occurrences.
The club is working closely with Wiltshire Council and Melksham’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) in a bid to stop similar incidents happening again.
Avon Bowls Club secretary Philip Wells said, “We are extremely disappointed, especially because this isn’t the first time it has happened and it is also so close to the start of our season with the first game on 11th April.
“The pavilion has become a popular meeting point for young vandals in the afternoons and evenings, and they leave cigarette butts, cans and bottles. There are also reports of youths playing football on the green which costs a great deal of members’ money to maintain.
“The situation has got worse since Melksham House closed as generally there are less people about to make sure misbehaviour does not happen.
“We are now working closely with the police and with the council to resolve the situation, so hopefully this is an end to it all. The Melksham NPT were coincidentally already booked to give a talk at Melksham Oak the next day and the issue was brought up, so hopefully word will get around that this will not be tolerated.
“We will install CCTV and Wiltshire Council is proceeding to improve lighting on the approach to Melksham House and at the rear of the pavilion; we hope these changes will help.”
Anyone with information about the vandalism can contact Wiltshire Police on 101.
