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Southmead community devastated by fire
Community leaders have said they are devastated by an arson attack which has left a children’s playground in ruins.
The blaze at the The Ranch playground in Doncaster Road broke out around 9pm on Monday evening. The fire service has said the blaze was started deliberately.
is needed now More than ever
Paddy Dorney runs children’s play groups at the site for Learning Partnership West (LPW). He said the fire has been devastating: “I had a phone call last night – you could see the flames for miles”
“There were so many people down here – parents and children were crying in the streets.
Acting chief executive for LPW John Savage said the fire was a “terrible event for the children and young people of Southmead”.
He said: “I’d like to reassure the people of Southmead that LPW will rebuild the adventure playground as quickly as we possibly can.
“However, we hope to run play sessions and other activities from the site, where our other building has been left unaffected, as soon as the police and fire service allow us.”
He said it was “particularly hard to take” after LPW and volunteers had renovated the play area earlier this year.
Speaking at the playground Mr Dorney said the community was determined to rebuild the playground which opened in 1955: “What has stuck me is the determination of this community to rebuild – we are already talking about setting up fundraising and donations on our Facebook page”
Photo credit: Paddy Dorney