BARRY children are being deprived of safe places to play due to a vicious circle of vandalism.

Labour councillor Rob Curtis has blasted youths who destroy the town's parks, forcing them to close - only to return when they are repaired to wreck them once again.

This, he claims, leaves young children with nowhere to play and creates a 'vicious circle' that is never broken.

Cllr Curtis is now calling for CCTV cameras to be installed in all play areas.

Speaking after it was revealed that 12 parks within the Vale are to be closed for repairs, the Gibbonsdown representative said it was time for action.

He told the News: "When the Vale of Glamorgan Council repairs or installs new play equipment, it is destroyed within a few weeks. Then they are forced to close the area for health and safety reasons."

"We must do something to break this cycle of repair and vandalism which costs hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"I think the Vale council should tackle this problem by installing CCTV into the worst hit play areas.

In my opinion, the council would save more than the cost of installing the cameras within a few years."

He added: "This would make common sense.

We must not give in to a mindless few idiots who are bent on destruction, plus it would give parents peace of mind as their children play."

The Vale councillor used a park in his own doorstep to illustrate his point.

Cousins Scott Salter, 9, and Megan Gardiner, 6, cannot play in the park off Milton Road.

The gate is chained shut and a notice states the area is shut until further notice.

Currently, eleven other parks are closed in areas all over town from the Buttrills to Gibbonsdown.

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman confirmed all twelve parks will be closed until the money is found to repair them.

He said: "The council is always examining ways in which it can improve security at its play areas but any proposals need to be carefully considered in the context of availability of finance and the authority's current priorities."

n What do you think about the 'vicious circle of vandalism?'

Contact the News with your views?