Park In The Past: Flintshire community project counting cost of latest vandalism incident

A Flintshire community project aimed at preserving the area’s history has been hit by a wave of vandalism.

Park in The Past is managed by a Community Interest Company which has been set up to restore and manage Fagl Lane Quarry near Hope.

Despite the community’s enthusiasm for the project, “a small minority of individuals seem determined to spoil it for everyone else.” Those behind the project have said.

The latest incident has seen some fencing damaged which is in place ‘to keep people safe.’

The vandalism has not only caused damage to the site but it is also drained the project’s finances.

Park in the Past relies on gate money, fundraising events, workshops, and donations to keep the site running, and the cost of repairs is a significant burden on the project.

The site, which includes a lake that is 30 meters deep and extremely cold, as well as slurry mud lagoons from quarry days, is fenced off for safety reasons.

In a post on their Facebook page, a spokesperson for the project said:

“The Park aims to be able to employ local people in the future, and bring visitors into this area who will then benefit the wider community by spending money in local pubs, B&Bs, camp sites, cafes and shops – but every time someone vandalises something on the site, that takes money out of the project, and into the cost of repair.”

“Park in the Past has no government or council funding – the site is run on the gate money, fundraising from events and workshops and donations – just the insurance to be able to allow people onto the Park is a huge amount of money, let alone the utility costs for the cafe and visitor centre and general maintenance – add to that the ongoing Fort building and the running costs are pretty scary !”

“The fencing is to keep people safe. The lake is 30 meters deep and extremely cold, and there are various slurry mud lagoons left from quarry days – these are potentially VERY dangerous and fenced for that reason.”

“Recently there were news reports of children tragically drowning in a lake after playing on ice – we don’t want that kind of awful tragedy happening here.”

“The Park is covered by extensive CCTV and the camera footage is recorded, and so can be handed over to the police.”