Vandalism and graffiti news stories are as old as time and these go right back to the 1970s. They show damaged play equipment, pulled up flowers and shrubs, graffiti and a shelter which had to be pulled down in the end. And Blackpool’s beautiful Stanley Park didn’t escape either.
The decaded of the 1980s and 90s seemed to be plagued by vandals, costing thousands and thousands of pounds worth of damage to repair.
In case you missed them: 11 scenes of a wrecked Blackpool North Shore Boating Pool when it fell into disrepair in the 1980s
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1. When they wrecked our parks...
Intruders dug up plants and shrubs at Central Drive recreation ground and laid them out on the bowling greens as if in readiness for planting. This was May 1979 Photo: National World
2. When they wrecked our parks...
John Mullen highlights damage to trampolines at Anchorsholme Park in April 1996 Photo: National World
3. When they wrecked our parks...
This was the state of the shelter at Gynn Gardens in June 1992. Wrecked by graffiti. The local residents association wanted shutters putting up to stop drunks from using the hut as a drinking den Photo: National World
4. When they wrecked our parks...
This shelter at Watson Road park, South Shore, ended up being demolished after youths plagued the area with anti-social behaviour, smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol. 1990 Photo: National World
5. When they wrecked our parks...
This dreadful state back in 1981 was at Fleetwood Memorial Park when vandals pulled up plants at the park's Cenotaph Photo: National World
6. When they wrecked parks...
Bob Wills who was Chairman, Friends of Stanley Park by the vandalised wall at the entrance to the Italian Gardens back in 2003 Photo: Bill Johnson