‘It feels like a slap in the face’: Residents shocked after burning wreckage left on playing field
By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter
A burnt-out car was left on Purley Way Playing Fields after a second night of illegal driving on the Croydon open space in a week.
Residents of Waddon Way, in South Croydon, reported hearing a car “maxing out its engine” on the playing fields opposite at around 12.30am on Wednesday.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) crews were later called to the scene after the offending vehicle was seen in flames near the grounds of Harris Academy Purley. It is unclear if the fire was deliberate, the LFB said.
While the car wreckage remains at the site, leaving a scorched patch of grass, the council said no long-term damage has been done and has committed to removing the vehicle soon.
The individuals involved have not been identified but there is an ongoing police investigation.
The news follows a similar incident on Sunday night, in which a Mitsubishi 4×4 was seen revving its engine and driving doughnuts around the fields. It left deep tyre tracks across several football pitches.
The burnt-out car looks similar to the one seen driving on Sunday, but is so badly damaged it is not possible to confirm, police said.
Residents have said it is “unbelievable” such vandalism has happened again so soon after and feel their green spaces should be better protected to avoid further damage.
Waddon’s Labour councillor Rowenna Davis believes the council’s lack of care for the borough’s open spaces has allowed vandalism to thrive at the expense of law-abiding residents.
She said: “It feels like a slap in the face for the community.”
Earlier this week Cllr Davis, and fellow councillor Elilly Ponnuthurai, issued a joint statement which read: “The Purley Way Playing Fields is one of Waddon’s beauty spots; it’s scenic and serene and moreover extensively used by families, dog walkers and during this football season.
“We call upon the Mayor to protect our precious green spaces and take better care of them.”
A Croydon council spokesman said: “We have reported the incident to the police and they are investigating the incident but we would like to thank residents who have contacted the council to report this senseless act of vandalism.
“We will work with the police and encourage anyone with information to contact them.”
Pictured top: The London Fire Brigade was called to the Purley Way playing fields on Tuesday evening (Picture: Daihbi Turball)