Pool vandalised twice (From Witney Gazette)

Pool vandalised twice

12:33pm Friday 4th January 2008 in Witney By David Horne

CHIPPING Norton's award winning outdoor swimming pool has been vandalised twice in one week.

The Lido was targeted on Thursday afternoon when a disabled toilet was broken into, paper taken and then set on fire.

A fire started in a skimmer, an outlet for the pool's filtration and pumping system but, after an alert by a neighbour, was quickly put out by the town's firefighters.

The attack came just days after windows were smashed at The Lido - along with other vandalism at the town's Rugby and Bowls clubs - on New Year's Day.

Claire Jarvis, Lido trustee, said: "This is another utterly pointless and mindless piece of vandalism. I feel outrage and despair in equal measure.

"The damage will be significant as the plastic piping is burnt out not only in the skimmer and on the side of the toddler pool, but also all along the piping under the paving stones where the fire was spreading."

Ms Jarvis said it was "dispiriting" for three Chipping Norton facilities to be targeted. "They are all places run by local volunteers for the benefit of the wider community," she added.

Police have been informed and are treating the incident as arson.

The pool, which is closed during the winter, won the Community Project Award organised by the Amateur Swimming Association, last year.

It was saved from closure after a community campaign backed by TV celebrity Jeremy Clarkson, who lives in the town, and Witney MP and Tory leader David Cameron.