VANDALISM at a district village Scout and Guides’ headquarters is so severe that the building has had to be closed.
Dozens of Kirkheaton Cubs, Brownies, Guides and Scouts have been forced to find temporary accommodation for their activities after £11,000 worth of damage to the roof was revealed.
Scout and Guide group chairman Jean Beverley, said persistent attacks on the building had left it susceptible to damage from the recent torrential downpours.
“Vandals have caused a lot of damage by throwing rubbish at the building and smashing roof tiles, she said.
“During the recent heavy rainfall we had water pouring into the building.
Mrs Beverley said when the roofers came to repair the damage they found some serious structural damage and had to stop working.
She said: “The roof’s timbers have moved and the gable ends have twisted. We had enough money to fix the roof but not enough for this. Now we’re in a state of limbo waiting to see
if the insurers will pay for it all. Once the roof is done there’s the inside to do too.”
Last weekend the group raised more than £2,000 at their annual summer gala, but Mrs Beverley said it was nowhere near enough to finance the repairs. The group is using a number of local community buildings in the run up to the summer break but with the prospect of no resolution until the end of the summer Mrs Beverley is worried about accommodating the group for the start of the new season in September.
She added: “We might have to hold some appeals.”
