A CAMERA which was put in place to prevent anti-social behaviour in Cemaes was itself vandalised less than 24 hours after being installed.
Llanbadrig Community Council hoped to camera would help tackle issues such as uncontrolled access to the beach by boat and jet-ski users.
There have also been problems of human waste and rubbish being dumped into the river and disposable barbecues causing fire hazards.
But almost immediately after the camera was installed, it was damaged.
An appeal has now been issued by the council, which has reported the crime to the North Wales Police.
In a statement posted on the village notice board the council said the camera was installed on Friday, August 11, but not yet connected, at the beach car park.
By Saturday morning, the pole with the camera attached had been pushed over, with the camera damaged – leaving the council with a £2,000 cost.
The camera has since been put back into place.
They said the camera was put into place due to a number of complaints and concerns raised by local residents around “health and safety issues” in the area.
The notice describes how a lock to a middle bollard at the entrance to the beach had been cut on “at least four occasions” and a bollard had even been taken away.
This had enabled uncontrolled access to the beach for a number of vehicles and trailers to launch boats or jetskis – “even when the beach is busy with families enjoying themselves,” the notice stated.
There is a key system in place for people to open the bollard to get access, and this is monitored by the community council on request.
Other incidents included rubbish and human waste being dumped into the river, parties on the beach, disposable barbecues scorching a wooden table, barbecues being lit late into the night and cars driving along the prom when people were walking along.
The council said: “Many parents have complained to us about these incidents and are concerned about their children’s safety.
“These are just some of the main complaints, as a community council we are responding to residents concerns over health and safety.
“Our community’s and visitors’ safety is very important to us as council members.”
A spokesperson for the community council said they are not commenting further on the matter, but asked if anyone can help, or knows anything about the incident, or has any comments or observations, to contact them on [email protected] uk.
The matter has been reported to the North Wales Police; incident number A128301.
