A COUNCILLOR has hit out after thousands of pounds of vandalism was caused at a Cardenden football pitch.

The John Thomson pitch recently had its surrounding metal fence damage and restored, but sadly it has been vandalised once again.

Cllr Rosemary Liewald told the Times it costs thousands to fix damage such as this.

She said: “Many of you will recall that the metal fencing panels surrounding the John Thomson pitch were damaged and thrown into the pitch during the summer months, AND thankfully at that time repairs were carried out by Fife Sports and Leisure and Fife Council, and the panel was placed back in position.

“I sadly have to report that this has happened once again. It would appear that this damage took place in the late hours of Saturday the 23rd of October at around 9.30pm.

“The John Thomson pitch was built in Wallsgreen Park after many years of fundraising and work by The John Thomson Memorial Group.

“The legacy which the pitch brings through youth football throughout this area and in our local schools is outstanding. It saddens me that this has happened.

“The cost of repairs due to this kind of damage runs into the thousands of pounds, money which could and should be spent elsewhere by both Fife Sports and Leisure Trust and Fife Council.

“Wallsgreen Park is currently monitored by our Safer Communities team, our Local Community Police and by CCTV cameras.

“The camera footage is currently being reviewed in the hope that answers to who is responsible for this damage is found.”

David Taylor from the Cardenden Community Council has expressed his disappointment on hearing this news, as has Dave Roy, vice chair of the Community Development Forum and Chair of the Central Fife Crime Prevention Panel.

Dave said: “[I am] disheartened to hear that once again a vital property and outstanding facility which this community has worked so hard for is being repeatedly damaged by selfish vandals.”

Alec Burns, the founding member of the John Thomson Committee and who worked for years to establish the fundraising for this pitch, has passed on to Cllr Liewald how upset and sorely disappointed he is that this has happened once again.

Cllr Liewald added: “I would urge our community that if anyone has any information regarding who may be responsible for this damage would they please pass this on to our local community police.

“This is a facility for our community and deserves to be looked after.”