Only two nights ago I wrote the piece for the forthcoming CHARDA newsletter, inviting everyone to marvel at the new play area. Sadly, subsequent to that the effects of one of the hottest, dryest summers for eighty years have taken their toll, aided in part by the youths who tore up sections of the turf on Friday night, leading to the loss of larger areas of turf as the air got under the edges.

Despite Councillors spending hours pumping water from bowsers and hose-pipes, the turf has shrunk and browned in several areas. May be it will die if we have no substantial rain soon. It is more than distressing to see our plans for a summer opening come to nought, but plainly this area will not be useable for some time. We are continuing to water the turf in the hope that rain will allow some of the remaining grass to grow, and keep the turf alive, and offer our apologies to the children who were hoping to use the facility during the summer holidays.

If you have any information regarding the vandalism on the night of of Friday 2nd July, the Police Crime Reference is 80368-10.