Fines cash could be used to fund vandal damage repairs in Barnsley park

Vandal damage to a Barnsley park which will cost £2,500 to repair could be covered by income from fixed penalty fines.
Darfield ParkDarfield Park
Darfield Park

A cycle path in Darfield Park was damaged when wheelie bins were set alight by vandals, leaving a bill for resurfacing work.

Councillors have been told Barnsley Council’s own parks department cannot indicate when repairs may be carried out if the job was left to them.

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So instead the South Area Council, a localised council body made up of those who represent the area, want to use income from fixed penalty fines instead.

The area council employs a private contractor to enforce fines against offenders found littering, allowing dog fouling or parking illegally and the profits from those fines are added to its budget.

Members have now suggested using some of that income to try to get the repairs carried out in time for the onset of better weather, when visitor numbers are expected to increase.

When the area council met, there were too few members to sanction decisions, so instead those present recommended the action, with the final confirmation of the plan to go to a future meeting of the body.