TALKS are to take place in an effort to crack down on vandalism in a park.

Belle Vue Park has been hit by fires and incidents of anti-social behaviour, leaving a bill running into thousands of pounds, after Wrexham Council decided it could no longer afford to lock its five gates overnight.

The pavilion and a bowling green have been vandalised, while firefighters have dealt with a number of arson cases, including one fire that threatened the large community centre at the park off Bradley Road.

A Wrexham Council staff member had been assaulted twice when asking people to leave before he locked the gates at 10pm during the summer.

The local authority then decided the man could not lock up on his own in future and the council could not afford a second person to do the job with him.

The gates have not been locked since April when the spate of vandalism started.

Offa community councillors are among those concerned about the increase in damage and danger caused by vandals which is threatening the enjoyment of thousands of people using the park’s facilities.

Offa has had complaints from the Parciau Bowling Club and the Friends of the Park.

The bowling club, which plays on two greens in the park, has had to cancel matches on one of the greens which was damaged.

Wrexham Council claims it will cost £5,000 a year to lock the gates each night. County and community councillor Phil Wynn is now due to meet Wrexham Council’s environmental chief John Bradbury to seek a solution.

The community council has agreed to pay £2,500 towards locking the gates if the authority matches that sum. The community will also offer £2,500 towards the cost of maintaining the bowling greens.

That work until had been funded by 10 yearly donations by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Cllr Ann Hett said it would be a most unpopular decision if the council did not pay.

Cllr Steven Hale said the council had been caught between a rock and a hard place.

Cllr Tom Stanford said the park was beautiful and gave a lot of pleasure to a lot of people and it would be a shame if the council allowed it to become run down.

Cllr Ben Davies said he would willingly offer to lock the gates if other councillors and volunteers were to help out.

But other councillors added it would be a big commitment for volunteers to lock the gates 365 days a year.