Warwick residents disheartened and saddened by vandalised lights

Residents in Warwick have said they feel disheartened and saddened after newly installed lights have been vandalised.

Recently Warwick District Council installed pillar lights along the track between the two car parks at St Mary's Lands.

However soon after being installed they were vandalised - leaving just a few in tact.

Terry Brown was alerted to the issue last week after his daughter Emma Brown saw the lights.

Terry said: "Just recently the council installed solar pillar lights to the track between the two car parks on St Mary’s Lands.

"They installed 26 of them and within days 22 have been vandalised.

"Can someone please tell me what neanderthal thinks it’s fun and clever to destroy an amenity such as this.

"They need to be caught and made to pay or, if I suspect, it’s children their parents should cough up and then perhaps they might keep a keener eye on where they are after dark, but this is just a forlorn hope."

Emma added: "When they were first installed they looked nice and I was very pleased that the lights had been put in ready for winter as it's very dark along there once the clocks go back.

"It's disheartening to see them vandalized so quickly. What a waste of money."

Ray Hoare, another Warwick resident, also spotted the damage to the lights.

He said: "One occasion the lights were there and on the next occasion the tops were missing. Clearly someone decided to have a little go at these. There are only about four or five left.

"This was clearly a well-intentioned scheme and you have got to feel sorry for whoever came up with the idea.

"I was genuinely concerned and quite saddened to see this had happened.

"The scheme has suffered because of this and they have got to reinforce the covers in some way to give would-be vandals a bit more of a challenge.

"I will be interested to see what the solution is."

A spokesperson from Warwick District Council said: “Warwick District Council reported the incident to the Police as soon as it became aware that the new lights had been damaged.

"Replacement parts have been ordered, and we are investigating the use of some form of caged protection to prevent any further damage.”

The Warwick Central Safer Neighbourhood Team have been approached for a comment.