AN appeal to police to step up measures to curb vandalism in Tavistock was this week issued by councillors shocked at recent incidents reported by the public.
The town?s properties committee heard that in one case a member of the public was subjected to abuse by youths in the Meadows, who had been hanging off the gutters of the bandstand and kicking the slates off.
There had also been complaints about broken bottles and beer cans in the Meadows, again around the bandstand.
Cllr Ted Sherrell was appalled by the incidents.
He said: ?Something has to be done about this. I know it goes on year in, year out, but we are in a situation when public spirited citizens of the town have tried to stop this business and they were verbally assaulted.
?This is not just horseplay, it?s breaking of the criminal law.
?We must write to the police again ? the people of this town have a right to expect law and order to prevail in a public place.
?The Meadows is as much a part of Tavistock as Bedford Square and this blatant vandalism and abuse is simply not acceptable.?
Mayor of Tavistock Cllr Jenny Metcalf said she had heard similar tales from a member of the public regarding the Bannawell Street play area where youngsters had torn down saplings.
She said: ?Could we not have some very well-publicised phone number that members of the public could report these things to, so at least we might know what time of the day these things are happening??
Cllr Ann Johnson said these latest incidents were ?a very serious matter? and suggested closer liaison with Tavistock?s neighbourhood beat manager, PC Larry Base.
Town clerk Roger Howard said he would investigate the idea of posters advertising the Crimestoppers police report telephone number, to help the public report vandalism when it occurred.
A spokesman for Tavistock Police said closer attention had been paid to the Meadows area in recent weeks and action was being taken with regard to two recent offences.
He said PC Base frequently patrolled the Meadows area while he was on duty.
?The problems do seem to exacerbate in the school holidays,? he said. ?It is an area we concentrate on, particularly at the weekend, along with Bedford Square and the area near Taylor Square ? it is an ongoing issue.?