On 12 Aug 2008 at 8:31pm Russell wrote:
It was reported recently in the Sussex Express that the kiosk at the Pells Pool had been broken into and costly damage was caused. It now appears that OUR pool is under sustained attack. Barely a night passes without break-ins, attempted break-in and general wanton damage. Fences broken down, doors and windows smashed, outbuilding broken into, roof gravel, glass bottles and generally anything to hand thrown into the grounds, the pool itself and used as amunition to break windows. The pool for as long as I can remember has suffered from a bit of vandalism but this year we are experiencing something new. The Pells Pool is under attack. Most of the intrusions take place between 10pm and 3am. This situation is very dispiriting for our staff and in particular our pool manager who spends hours each day clearing up the debris and securing and making good. Furthermore money allocated for improvements to the pools facilities is now being redirected to pay for repairs and replacements. The committee have agreed on several courses of action which we are initiating without delay. These include a security guard present nightly, floodlighting, high quality CCTV, the bricking up of non-essential windows and security grills. All this will cost money. YOUR MONEY BECAUSE IT IS YOUR POOL.
I would be very interested to hear any opinions and suggestion regarding this situation. Russell Beck (Pells Pool Community Association)
On 12 Aug 2008 at 9:14pm Lord Landport wrote:
Hi Russell
The youth of today is getting out of control I must admit as a youngster Prob about 12 years of age I threw a eel into the pool as a adult I understand this was stupid and also must confess climbing into the pool for a swim after the pub along with the other 30 or so adults.
But never breaking in or stealing as kids we knew this was
our pool and treated it like our own.
good luck with your mission hopefully this will still be round in years to come to take my kids.
On 12 Aug 2008 at 9:57pm Doris wrote:
Well done Russell. Really sorry to hear that and got the letter from the Pells Pool Community Association tonight. Be assured we will call the police- we always do in the Pells but its getting worse. I have called them at least three times in the last fortnight. It appears that the park and the pool have become the latest place to wreck. I think the security guard is a great idea albeit very expensive and a sad indictment of the situation. When our car was smashed up the cops told us it was because we are on a dog leg between Landport and Malling. I cant believe the police dont know the people doing it. I assume you have been in touch with the local community officer and requested the PCSOs have a greater presence. I assume that CCTV evidence will allow the police to take out ASBOs?
On 12 Aug 2008 at 10:56pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
Could this vandalism be caused by the same kids that broke the car windscreens the other week?
On 12 Aug 2008 at 11:08pm g-spot wrote:
I've walked past the pool on certain (warm) evenings and seen at least 15 teenagers swimming or walking round the pool as if it was open.
It was like they werent worried they'd be caught. Or perhaps they werent worried about what would happen if they were actually caught.
It seems that the Pells pool and park area is a meeting place for all kinds of teenage yobs. I think a CCTV camera would be a great idea but it would be a good to ensure the camera has a view to the park and along pelham terrace.
On 13 Aug 2008 at 4:57am Belly flopper wrote:
I am responsible for looking after a large municiple garden in Brighton. I can honestly say that this is the worst year in 25 years for mindless vandalism and criminal damage. At one point, i was getting 20-30 broken bottles a night.
It's absolutely soul destroying to come into work and find all this damage so i know exactly how you feel Russell.
Good luck and i hope you get it sorted.
On 13 Aug 2008 at 6:26am terry lesser wrote:
In particular response to g-spot's observations we all know that an after hours swim at the pool has been a bit of a tradition in the summer months for at least half a century to my knowledge and although for insurance and health and safety reasons it cannot be openly approved of it has been part of Lewes life. And life is a good word as I for one know of at least two lives that have been conceived within the grassy shadows of the Pells Pool. What a shame that a years of normally harmless rights of passage rebelion might be curtailed because of what seems like necessary responses to this mindless and selfish behavior of some of the more ferral members of our community.
On 13 Aug 2008 at 8:14am Taff wrote:
If paying for security can you get a rebate for whatever the pools contribution is to the constabulary? Hardly doing much of a job down there are they, especially as its popular for wanton damage.
On 13 Aug 2008 at 10:55am sashimi wrote:
Taff, the police can't lie in wait 10pm to 3am each night in sufficient force to be able to catch whoever is breaking in. They have always cooperated well with the Pool Manager and they have now registered the Pells area as a hot spot. With a bit of luck they may get whoever is doing this. As g-spot suggests, it's more likely we're suffering from mindless teenage vandalism than the next Great Train Robbers - and it's probable that they will move on and bother people somewhere else sooner or later. The defences the Pool will now have to put up will effectively put an end to the 'tradition' of hopping over the wall at night and skinny dipping - but in the Nanny State we live in it's likely health and safety were going to push us in that direction anyway.
On 13 Aug 2008 at 11:06am Taff wrote:
Sashimi, I am aware of the difficult logistics needed but if they did lay in wait occasionally they would eventually catch someone. Think of the message that sends out to other potential mindless ne'er do wells. Plus I thought the plod were only up for easy nicks these days?
On 13 Aug 2008 at 11:41am The Tooth Fairy wrote:
Ask Lewes to play Crawley in the Pells rec every night and you won't be able to move for coppers. Nice to see they can actually get off their backsides once in a while, though not to deter or solve any crime.
On 26 Aug 2008 at 12:09pm Paul wrote:
There is a meeting tonight (26/08/08) in the Town Hall to discuss this issue - please come along if you have been affected by vandalism, noise, antisocial behavour or the Pells getting broken into.
The police are active in the area and us local residents will be damned if the Pells will become a no-go area at night.
The kids of Malling and Landport must understand that it's their Lewes too and all they are doing is bringing us all down to their level.