Boating Lake Café Targeted By Vandals

Torfaen council is appealing for information after the Boathouse Cafe at Cwmbran Boating Lake was targeted by vandals three times in one week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The café is run by local company Owen’s Catering and damage was been caused to the walls, windows and shutters. The café also lost money and stock in the incidents which occurred in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday 23rd August, Sunday 28th August and Wednesday 31st August. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council is appealing to over-night fishermen and other park users who may have information about the incidents to come forward. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor John Cunningham, executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “This is a disgusting act of vandalism and theft, and we are still assessing the full cost of the damage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Boathouse Café is well used by visitors and if this vandalism continues we risk losing a real asset to the local community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There are regularly people fishing at the boating lake overnight who may have seen or heard something and I would urge them to come forward with any information that will help us identify these criminals.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The boathouse itself was rebuilt in 2009 after the original building, opened by Princess Anne in 1971, was burnt to the ground by arsonists in 2007. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anyone with information should contact Gwent Police on 101 quoting log 87 31/08/16. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​