Councillor issues warning after skate park arson

A councillor has issued a warning after fires were lit at a skate park in Peterborough.

Alex Rafiq and Ivelina Banyalieva, Conservative city councillors for the Paston and Walton ward, said they were made aware by residents of fires being lit at Paston Skate Park on Saturday and Sunday.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said a crew was called to Willesden Avenue in Walton just before 19:00 BST on Saturday and found an outbuilding on fire, which was believed to have been started deliberately.

Rafiq told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it was "extremely disappointing", adding that the perpetrators were believed to be a group of children aged between 12 and 16.

Rafiq said: "If that spread and someone died, or someone's house was burnt down, then they would be in serious trouble.

"Luckily, in Paston we have a lot of Ring doorbell footage and the CCTV is operational again at the Chadburn Centre, so I've contacted the police with all the information and details of where these children are gathering.

"Damage to our parks and open spaces makes it extremely difficult for myself and [Banyalieva] to obtain funding for improvements for our community, so we must work together to stomp this out."

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said its local neighbourhood team was working with partners and schools to educate young people about the dangers of fires.

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