Burnham community heartbroken after memorial bench is destroyed

The wooden bench, in memory of Sarah Rose, was used by park users and dog walkers to catch up and share laughs and conversations.

Burnham Parish Council clerk Louise Hayday said the groundskeeper discovered the slats on the bench were broken and graffiti all over it on Monday morning (August 15).

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There's also scratch marks all over the plaque next Sarah's name.

Burnham Park user Vinny Khan said she feels 'devastated' that it's been destroyed.

"I have lived in the area for over 17 years and used to see Sarah Rose in the park. I was devastated to see what has happened to her memorial," she said. 

Vinny added: "We all know that the park meant a lot to her, which is why her family placed the bench there. It’s been used over the years by so many children and grown ups.

"Some sit in silence while others have laughs and in-depth conversations. Just broke our hearts as it’s a meeting point for us and our friends. We all meet there to take our puppies for walks and have them play while we sit and watch. We are all so upset by this."

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The resident also raised concerns about the lack of street lighting in the park.

Ms Khan said: "We walk there all year around and come winter we are there in pitch black darkness. And even if I don’t know what time of day this vandalism took place, I can guarantee you it was in the dead of night.

"With no one being able to see two feet in front of them, let alone to the other side of the park. This is just one sad and awful occurrence. However there are so many more. If people knew that their actions could be witnessed. They are less likely to act out is such a way."

The parish council said they've applied to the insurance company to get a replacement bench reported the vandalism to police.

Parish Clerk Louise Hayday said: "I think it is disgraceful for anyone to destroy a memorial bench or anything for that matter. It was done last weekened and it's been graffitied and the back slats have been kicked out. I don't know when it happened exactly but the groundsman found it like that on the Monday morning (August 15). 

"You'd be surprised at how expensive park benches cost - they're around £1,000 to replace but we've applied to the insurance to replace the bench and have reported it to police."