Vandals who ripped flowers out of tubs in Spalding town centre should be made to pay – by working alongside volunteers who spend hours making the seating area look attractive for shoppers.
This is the call by Coun Angela Newton, just weeks after the tubs were planted up by volunteers preparing for the visit of East Midlands in Bloom judges.
Police received reports of youths pulling up flowers from the planters in Hall Place on Monday night.
The planters are owned by Lincolnshire County Council but maintained and planted by the district council and Spalding in Bloom volunteers.
Coun Newton said: “It’s disgusting and a smack in the face for the people who prepare and weed the planters throughout the year.
“Those responsible should be made to know their parents are paying for the upkeep of these in their Council Tax.
“I’d like to see them being made to do some sort of community service and even come out and work with us so they know the hard work which goes into making the planters look nice.
South Holland in Bloom member Coun Gary Taylor is equally horrified by the latest spate of vandalism in the town centre.
He said: “This is mindless vandalism.
“We will be contacting the CCTV centre to see if there is any evidence to find out who did this.
“We appreciate members of the public who are our eyes and ears.
“Acts like this take place all over the district and we will show those resposible we will not be made downhearted by going out and replanting.”
Witnesses are asked to call the police on 101. A spokesman for South Holland District Council said: “We would encourage anyone with information about the incident to contact the police.”
HELP THE VOLUNTEERS
A new call is being made for volunteers to help make South Holland attractive for residents and visitors.
On Sunday morning, there will be a litter pick in Spalding, starting at 10am in the Monks House Lane playing field.
If there is time, the group will move on to the roadside verges along Bourne Road and Woolram Wygate.
Councillors and the town’s new group Spotless Spalding have offered to go along, but members of the public are welcome.
South Holland in Bloom’s next meeting is at the South Holland District Council offices on Thursday, August 27, starting at 6am.
The meeting includes In Bloom groups from Holbeach, Long Sutton, Donington, Crowland and Sutton Bridge as well as Spalding.