Brand new bus stops and play parks vandalised in Swaffham

A brand new set of advanced bus stops have been vandalised just weeks after opening – while a town park has been defiled with rude messages.

Swaffham has been plagued by anti-social behaviour in recent days, with a play area on Orford Road being covered in derogatory phrases and Nazi Swastikas.

Just as troubling has been the graffiti drawn on two bus stops which only opened in the town centre earlier this month – environmentally friendly shelters with real-time information screens, grass roofing and cycle racks.

They are among the first to feature these digital and eco-designed features in the county, and councillors have been left frustrated by the damage – which was done just before 4am last Saturday.

Helen Carrier, the clerk of Swaffham Town Council, said: “It’s extremely frustrating and disappointing, because there’s a lot of hard work from different agencies to have them put in.

“They were lovely – they’re specially built bus stops, people can see down the road when the bus is coming.”

The bus stops were installed as part of the town’s High Street Heritage Action Zone, a project with Historic England and Breckland Council to make improvements to the marketplace and surrounding area.

Similar ones are planned for Hunstanton in the coming months.

And Ms Carrier says the culprits, believed to be two youths, have been identified by CCTV footage from a nearby shop. Police have been notified, and officers are currently investigating the case.

Breckland Council, meanwhile, is believed to have offered to clean the shelters.

Ms Carrier said play parks in Swaffham have been the victims of anti-social behaviour before, and added: “We don’t seem to get much graffiti and vandalism in the centre of town. It’s more out on the open spaces.

"Have respect for public property. These facilities are put in for the public to use, and it’s just rude – spoiled for other people.”

Got a story? Email newsdesk@lynnnews.co.uk