Yobs targeted a park undergoing redevelopment over the weekend. Fire services were called to the Horwich park after two wheelie bins were set alight. An engine from Horwich Fire Station was sent to Old Station Park on Sunday (August 18) just after midnight.
Crews took 20 minutes to deal with the blaze. Cllr Ryan Bamforth, who represents Horwich North, said: “The council is sending out a team to assess the damage, do rapid repairs and see what further treatment needs to be done.” Cllr Bamforth said a nearby memorial bench was damaged by the fires.
He said: “It’s become apparent it was for a resident’s family member who passed. “One of the council officers who first responded to the incident said one of the possible outcomes was that the benches would be removed. “I think that would have a detrimental effect.
Those benches are used by numerous people in Horwich and visitors. They are a gathering point. “I don’t feel that because of one or two bad apples we should remove them.
” Anthony Bridge, of Horwich, said: “The 4G pitch, benches and restored railway buffers are all magnets for large groups of youths gathering who leave huge amounts of litter. “And this can escalate to situations like the bin fires. “There has to come a point when the council steps up on behalf of the majority to protect the use of public spaces from the brainless minority who choose to vandalise.
” Old Station Park has undergone major renovations over the years from a flood basin .