Church acts (From Penarth Times)

Church acts

A PENARTH church is coming down hard on the local vandals who are destroying their place of worship.

Members of Elfed Avenue Presbyterian Church are hitting back after a catalogue of incidents over the years. These include arson, theft and general vandalism - most of which is centred on the private grounds surrounding the building.

The site, surrounded by a low wall, was put there about ten years ago for the convenience of the parishioners. But it seems to have generated a whole host of problems.

An Elder of the church, David Oliver, 68, of West Terrace, spoke to the Times about the problem.

He said: "We have had to erect gates to stop kids burning our fire doors and put barbed wire up to prevent them climbing on the roofs. The next step is CCTV, and to prosecute people for trespassing, which we don't want to have to do.

He added: "What we want to stress to everyone is that we don't mind sharing our property. But there are limits, and we have reached ours."

Another Elder, Mostyn Davies, 58, of Erw'r Delyn Close, added: "It seems as though most people think this is a public right of way, and it isn't. While we don't object to non-members of the church walking through the forecourt as a short-cut, it is almost like an invite for younger members of the community to use the place like a playground. While we're having our services, this is not acceptable."

The ground is owned by the Presbyterian Church of Wales Properties Board, and there is a sign stating it is private property. But when members of the church challenge people, they say they are met with confusion.

David added: "I arrived one Sunday to find a man repairing his car in our car park. He was under the impression that it is a public area.

"The problem we see arriving is if we choose to put gates across the entrance, people will object on the grounds it is a public right of way, when it clearly isn't."

Combined with gangs of youths using the area to play football, and using the side of the church as a goal, the committee has decided it's all gone too far.

Secretary of the church committee, Margaret Oliver, 67, added: "One of the parishioners actually had her car damaged when children jumped all over it.

"We are not against young people. In fact we have plans in place to spend £368,000 building a young people's club with community use next to the church. All we want is a little respect from people who use our grounds."