Community centre to close after being targeted by vandals for third time this year – “some people don’t respect what’s in their own community”

The keys to a community centre are set to be handed back to Wrexham Council after a spate of mindless vandalism.

Members of New Broughton Community Council made the decision to stop funding and close the facility after the building was targeted again this week.

The latest incident saw vandals break into the centre by smashing the windows.

Crockery, Christmas decorations, lighting tubes in the ceiling, glasses have all been smashed – along with the internal doors being kicked in.

It is thought the incident took place sometime between Wednesday evening and this morning.

Gwenfro councillor Nigel Williams, who is also chair of the management committee running the building, told us it was the third time this year that the centre has been broken into.

Cllr Williams said: “We took over five years ago and spent all summer redecorating it.

“This is the third time this year broken into with damage and thefts funded by Broughton Community Council for last five years.

“Due to user groups leaving and constant vandalism, the community council have decided to stop funding and close the centre.

“It has made us very angry after the work and time put in over the years some people don’t respect what’s in their own community and because of this another facility will be lost.

He added: “The last user group left a few weeks ago, so after today’s problems we are handing the keys back to the council today.”

Wrexham Council have since confirmed it would be taking receipt of the keys for New Broughton Community Centre in the “very near future.”

A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: “We received a call at 10:45am today reporting that between 7.30pm on Wednesday and 8.00am today, the Community Centre on Bersham Road, New Broughton was broken into.

“The inside of the community centre was damaged, and we are appealing for anyone with any information to contact us on 101 citing reference X106039.”