CCTV to be considered after play park vandalism as councillor reveals she has been 'given names'

‘NAMES have been given’ to a Randalstown rep and council is to consider CCTV for local playparks after a vandalism attack in the town, just weeks after a long-awaited piece of equipment was replaced.

At the Operations Committee of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, David Blair, Head of Estate Services said that there will be a full review following the damage caused at the John Street play park over the Christmas holidays.

On an item about replacement of equipment in the borough’s Play Parks, DUP Dunsilly Alderman Linda Clarke said she was happy to note the report, but had learned that a temporary piece of replacement equipment ‘lasted ten days’ before being vandalised.

Alderman Clarke had been calling for the replacement of the basket swing for months.

She said: “Names have been given to me and I am working with the police.

“I drove past the other night at a quarter to ten and the gate was still lying open, it needs to be locked a lot earlier, especially on dark evenings.

“Is there any chance of getting CCTV in the area, we have spent a large amount of money replacing equipment with a temporary piece while waiting full equipment.”

Matt McDowell, Director of Estates and Recreation, said that the security contractor had a route but that he would be happy to look at what time certain parks should be closing.

Mr Blair said that the replacement basket swing had ‘some functionality’ and that council was awaiting the full piece, but added ‘it is unfortunate that it has been vandalised already.”

He added that he would ‘take a look’ at the issue of earlier locking ‘with the security team’ and that a review of all play parks would take place.

“Some have no locks, so we will look into that.”

In terms of CCTV, he added that such a system would not be monitored but would be recorded to look back on ‘for the safety of children in the area’.

Alderman Clarke agreed that her query related to CCTV which could be looked back on ‘if something does happen’, adding: “I am not expecting someone to monitor it 24/7.”

Responding to a question from Sinn Fein Airport Councillor Anne Marie Logue, Mr Blair said that the council was ‘pushing the boundaries of any budget we have’ and that more funding was imminent.

The refurbishment of the play park at John Street, involving minor works and replacement equipment was completed last summer as part of the council’s wider £890k play parks refurbishment project which was approved last year, following an audit of playground facilities across the borough.

A report stated: “During the course of the project, it became evident that further works were required to deliver a more complete and safe environment for users. This was due to continued deterioration of materials and equipment, as well as additional issues identified through the annual Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents safety inspections.”

A previously approved recurring annual reactive maintenance budget of £200,000 remains available to cover additional works.

The committee was told that the estimated completion date for the main project is now mid-January 2026.

Officers will carry out a full review of all play parks and prepare a report outlining any further works required at each site in the coming years.

Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster asked for an audit to be “refreshed frequently” and for works to be ‘phased better’ and carried out at times other than summer months to ensure that parks are available when people want to use them, although he said he appreciated it was hard to co-ordinate contractors.

Mr Blair said: “We will look at phasing, we had a lot to get through and it shouldn’t happen again.”

DUP Antrim Town Councillor Paul Dunlop thanked the officers for the refurbishment of Dunlop Park in Muckamore, named after his late father, Sam.

Speaking after the meeting, Alderman Clarke said that she had been campaigning for greater security at the John Street play park, including CCTV, for a number of years.

“These issues have been ongoing,” she said.

“The requests for CCTV were always refused before on the grounds of child safety. But CCTV is now everywhere in society.

“Children will not be filmed live, footage will only be reviewed by a qualified person only if an incident occurs.

“Until this happens, the money that is being spent on replacing damaged equipment is not going into the local community, where it is needed most.

“When the new equipment comes, so much the cameras, this is the only way the anti-social behaviour will be stopped.

“I was pleased to be able to bring this up and pleased that council officers have agreed to look at it and consider it, as these repeated vandalism attacks are very concerning.”