‘Mindless’ vandals saw off back of World War One commemorative bench in Derbyshire village

The bench – situated along the Red River Local Nature Reserve in Loscoe – was installed by Heanor and Loscoe Town Council in honour of those who died in World War One.

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Last Thursday, a member of the public informed the council that the back of the bench had been sawn off.

Councillor Paul Jones, leader of the council, said: “The council is stunned and shocked by the mindless and senseless vandalism – the bench was a commemoration of the sacrifice made by the residents of Loscoe during World War One.

“If they wanted to melt the bench down for scrap, they took away the back of the bench which has the least metal – so why they took the part they did is a mystery.

“Its location is in a tranquil part of the council’s nature reserve and has brought comfort to a lot of residents who just wished to sit there in the quiet and reflect.

“This area has been an important piece of the village, especially during the current pandemic.”

David Ogilvie Engineering Ltd, which sold the bench to the council, has now kindly offered to replace it free of charge.

Coun Jones thanked the company and added: “The council will have to have a serious think about how to ensure the new bench is secure from this kind of action.

“We will not allow the actions of a minority spoil the facilities we provide for the majority of the village.”

He added: “We will be looking to ensure that the other bench we have in the memorial park in Heanor is secure to ensure the same thing does not happen to that.

“This is very annoying as we are in the process of commissioning a piece of artwork for the memorial park to commemorate the end of World War Two and this kind of incident does make you wonder.”

Anyone with information about the crime should call police on 101, quoting crime number 20*474498, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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