Around 10pm last Saturday (April 2) a fire was started in Wanstead’s children’s playground. Sadly, this mindless act of vandalism destroyed some picnic tables made of a plastic composite. So, I assume you’d need some kind of liquid to make it burn. This in turn means it was premeditated and deliberate.

This has added sadness as, back in 2016, some local parents formed a trust to raise £100,000 to renovate the playground. I was one of the trustees of that group who worked so hard to raise the cash to make it happen. So, to see it partly destroyed is doubly saddening.

I’d like to thank the Redbridge Council guys who were out on Sunday morning cleaning up. Less than 12 hours after the event, well done. Your efforts were appreciated by the community.

Perhaps some lighting in the area or CCTV would help in future, although, quite what you can do to prevent a kids playground being burnt down is beyond me. You’d think that type of intervention wouldn’t be needed. But it is.

I hope the council will replace what’s been lost quickly, but their efforts in the hours after the event are appreciated. Thank you.

Scott Wilding

Wanstead Liberal Democrats