Vandals smash another bus stop near Chesterfield amid spate of anti-social behaviour - as shelter campaigned for by residents is destroyed

A bus stop along Summerskill Green at Inkersall was damaged by vandals on Sunday, October 18 - who smashed the windows and left shards of glass scattered across the floor.

This is the third incident to have occurred this month, with bus shelters at Markham Road in Duckmanton and Hall Road in Brimington also being damaged over the same weekend.

Councillor Paul Mann, who represents Hollingwood on Staveley Town Council (STC), said that the money being diverted towards repairs would make it harder for local authorities to fund youth facilities.

He said: “If it is kids that have done this, I have one message for them as a councillor - this comes out of your mum and dad's council tax. That is who is paying for this.

“So when you sit there saying there is nothing for us to do, like no youth clubs or events, think why. The local authorities cannot afford it because they have to divert money to put right what you think is a joke.

“When the council removes things like the youth shelter, the people that do this make it very hard for myself and other councillors to argue and give reasons why it should stay.

“You have just taken away money that just may have been spent on youth facilities.”

Councillor Dean Rhodes, who represents Inkersall Green on STC, added that the bus shelter was the result of years of campaigning - and had cost £1,200 to install.

He said: “After all the years it took to get this bus stop at the shops to protect the residents in bad weather, which cost £1,200 of taxpayers money, this has happened in the last 24 hours.

“If you have any information please get in touch with the police. The CCTV, which is pointing that way, is going to be checked.”

Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire Police have been approached for comment by the Derbyshire Times.