Vandals rip flowers from Park gardens

Residents expressed their outrage after pictures emerged which appeared to show a group of teenage girls holding clumps of flowers were posted on social media.

Marton councillor Jim Elmes branded the vandalism ‘despicable’, adding: “I just don’t understand why they would do it.

“I can only hope that someone can identify the vandals and action will be taken.

“The gardens always look really lovely at around this time of year and it is a great shame to hear they have been spoiled.”

Elaine Smith, chairman of the Friends of Stanley Park, said: “The beds had been ‘rested’ and re -soiled over the winter as well as being realigned back to Mawson’s original plan.

“They should now be starting to look magnificent again.

“ I hope those responsible are publicly shamed so that they never do anything like it again.”

The pictures of the scattered flowers have now been shared more than 7,500 times on Facebook, with hundreds of people rallying together to voice their disgust.

Coun Graham Cain, cabinet secretary for Blackpool Council, said that he hoped the strong public reaction would help discourage vandals from targeting the park in the future.

He said: “These acts are wholly unacceptable and show a complete disregard for the hard work and care that has been put into the park this summer.

“Our gardeners have designed and planted this 
summer’s display from scratch and we’ve had lots
of compliments from visitors to the park about just how 
superb the Italian Gar-
dens have been looking recently.

“Fortunately in this case the damage to the gardens is minimal.

“However the blatant disregard is shocking and I hope the public outcry against them has made them think twice about their irresponsible actions.

“Some people who spot anti-social behaviour can be too intimidated to approach the perpetrators directly, but we’d encourage people who spot these instances to call the police on 101, as well as ourselves.”

Police say they weren’t made aware of the vandalism on this occasion.