Arson in Queens Park play area

This morning (Monday 17 March), while carrying out daily checks and litter picks, our teams discovered play equipment in the Queens Park play area had been destroyed by fire.

The damage is extensive and devastating to the families who use it.

Our teams have made the area safe and barriered it off from the rest of the play area.

We’re currently reviewing CCTV footage and are liaising with Sussex Police.

It’s estimated the cost of the damage is between £25,000 and £30,000. We hope to be able to replace this by the summer.

If anyone has any information about who may be responsible, we’d ask them to contact Sussex Police on 101.

Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sport and Recreation, said: “This is a disgusting act of arson.

“I simply cannot understand why anyone would want to damage a children’s playground. We’ve worked hard to try and make play facilities across the city fun and enjoyable for children, only to have that ruined by a mindless act of vandalism.

“I’d urge anyone with information about who may have done this to contact Sussex Police. We’ll be working as quickly as we can to replace the damaged equipment.”

The Queens Park play area was part of a £3million pound revamp of our playgrounds in 2023.