Repairs to mindless vandalism to a seafront shelter in Budleigh Salterton could force a rise in council tax, the town is warned.
Budleigh’s seafront Jubilee Shelter had windows smashed, the water fountain damaged, and an arson attempt made during an overnight attack at the end of June.
Shelter windows adjacent to the Longboat café were smashed in the vandalism spree; the culprits tried to set fire to the structure and damaged a recently-installed water fountain.
The council will replace the shelter’s broken windows with new toughened glass.
The damage caused totals more than £1,000 and now the bill is expected to pass onto the taxpayer.
At Budleigh’s July town council meeting it was announced the cost of repairing the Jubilee Shelter vandalism was expected to cost in the region of £1,200.
Jo Vanstone, Budleigh Salterton Town Council clerk, said: “Thanks to whoever did it, the damage is going to cost the people of Budleigh Salterton; they are going to have to pay for it because we are probably going to have to put the precept up.”
She added: “Whoever did this not only smashed the windows on the Longboat side of the shelter, but tried to set fire to the frames.
“They also damaged the water fountain, bottle filling station, which the council paid to be installed last summer.”
Control of the Jubilee Shelter passed to Budleigh Salterton Town Council in March 2019 when East Devon District Council agreed on a sublease.
The damage caused totals more than £1,000 and now the bill is expected to pass onto the taxpayer.
Photos: Budleigh Salterton Town Council
