Appeal after Holmes Chapel bike shelter is wrecked
8:40am Friday 29th June 2012 in News
By David Morgan
Stuart Gammon examines the damaged shelter r1227200
A CYCLE shelter in Holmes Chapel has been attacked by vandals for the fourth time in five months.
The £2,500 shelter was installed in January in the village precinct in London Road, and has been damaged by yobs in February, April and most recently on June 19.
It was introduced as part of a community initiative to turn Holmes Chapel into the UK’s first ‘cycle village’ following a grant from Cheshire East Council.
Stuart Gammon, chairman of Holmes Chapel Partnership, said: “After we spent so much money to do that, it’s really upsetting.
“It’s so disappointing that one or two mindless individuals spoil it for everybody else.
“The shelter is being increasingly used by people throughout the village.
“There are some youths who use the cycle shelter as a goal for football, but why people vandalise it I don’t know.”
The shelter’s glazing has been damaged, and it is estimated it will cost around £500 to repair.
“This is money that we will have to find, which would otherwise be put to better use on our other projects, such as the Middlewich Road play area improvements,” said Stuart, of Portree Drive.
Holmes Chapel Partnership’s cycle village scheme also included creating a map of bike routes to the shops, schools, library and railway station.
Campaigners are now looking at how Holmes Chapel’s cycle paths can connect with other towns.
Stuart said: “We’re really focusing on getting people cycling rather than using their cars so they get the health benefits and reduce the pressure on our car parks.”
Insp Mark Gammage, who is in charge of policing in Holmes Chapel, said: “This type of behaviour is not acceptable and we are trying to trace those responsible.
“We would appeal to anyone with information to contact us.”
If you know who damaged the shelter or see vandalism taking place, call 101, the neighbourhood policing team on 0845 458 6382 or e-mail congleton.npt@cheshire.pnn.
police.uk.
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