Sports club's Council plea for the power to beat vandals

Glenrothes Cricket Club, which has its ground and facilities in Gilbenbank Park in the north of the town, has been plagued with vandalism, break ins and other forms of anti-social behaviour in the last two years.

Now, following the latest incidents of vandalism which resulted in practice net frames being pulled down, as well as the club house being broken in to, the club’s head of communication has called on Fife Council to do more to help the club improve security.

Eddie Gibbs told the Gazette the club desperately need a permanent electrical power supply installed to the club, which would allow them to install their own CCTV security in a bid to beat the vandals.

“We’ve had the funding for the power to be installed approved for a long time, but because the club is situated on Fife Council-owned land, the local authority is insisting that they carry out the works,” explained Mr Gibbs.

“However we have been left waiting despite numerous attempts to move the process along, we are now desperate to get the work done because without the added security measures the club remains an easy target for the vandals.”

Responding to the club’s call for the council to make the works a priority, Andy MacLellan, sports partnership manager said: “There has been ongoing positive communication with those involved in Gilvenbank Sports Hub project, of which the cricket club is a key member.

He added: “We’ve been working with the sports hub on general development opportunities in the park for a few years now but not specifically on the installation of a utility line for that length of time. An order was placed two months ago for the utility line, when a location was agreed with the sports hub, to service the area and the CCTV can be linked in to this.

“There is a lead-in time for this work that is outwith our control but we hope to have it in place within the next two months.

“Fife Council is funding the installation of both the power and the CCTV system.”

Police this week confirmed a 15-year-old girl had been charged in connection to the vandalism which took place at the cricket club on November 12.