Calls for CCTV after Colwyn Bay war memorial is vandalised

Dec 4 2008 By Richard Evans

COLWYN Bay Town Council wants to install CCTV cameras to protect a war memorial that has been desecrated by vandals.

The memorial at Queen’s Gardens was recently sprayed with paint by yobs who also used the steps as a BMX run.

The bronze plate listing the names of soldiers lost in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean conflict was smeared with orange cellulose paint, while tyre marks have scarred the monument’s steps.

It is thought BMX bikers have used the steps on each of the four sides of the statue to perform stunts.

The damage was discovered at a special re-dedication ceremony at Queen’s Gardens just a couple of days before Remembrance Day, which marked a £20,000 makeover for the monument.

Colwyn Bay council will fund new bollards and chain links to protect the statue and look into installing CCTV cameras.

Town clerk John Roberts told a shocked chamber of councillors at the town hall last week how he discovered the mess.

"We had a re-dedication service which a fair few councillors attended. However, when we looked at the war memorial there were two slabs of stone badly in need of replacement," he said.

"It wasn’t so apparent before they were cleaned but there were great holes in them. It had obviously been used as a BMX bike run. In addition to that someone had decided to spray orange paint on the back of one of the plaques.

"If it wasn’t for the names on that war memorial a lot of people wouldn’t have the freedom they enjoy today."

The paint has now been removed by Mr Roberts using paint thinners.

Mayor Phil Edwards said: "Desecrating a war memorial is despicable, a lack of respect."

John Schofield is a member of Colwyn Bay’s Royal British Legion on Coed Pella Road and was shocked when he discovered the damage.

"The kids run riot in that park. It is all part of the national trend, nobody seems to be able to control them," said John.

"There were a few naughty comments made by the soldiers at the re-dedication ceremony when they saw the graffiti. It is important for kids to remember what it is for."