Police called to investigate theft allegations after Anglesey Council removes community’s goal posts

Police were called to investigate allegations of theft after a council removed goal posts which had been installed at a contentious playing field that councillors were “claiming for the community”.

Since the closure of Ysgol Dwyran last year, a search has been on to establish a new play area for children, due to the former football pitch now being marketed for sale by Anglesey Council alongside the now empty school building.

Following months of wrangling over the fate of the  pitch, a decision by two local councillors to clear the site and install goal posts resulted in police involvement when the posts were removed just days later by council officers who cited health and safety reasons.

With insurance also understood to be a likely issue, Anglesey Council says that the goals have been stored for safe keeping until their reclamation, and says both local members have been contacted.

Cllr Peter Rogers confirmed that, thanks to a local farmer and volunteers from the community, the playing field was cut and cleared.

He said the site was “being claimed as a community acquisition” for the “very deserving children of Dwyran”.

The field in question lies near a small patch of land that was used as a play area under the lease of the community council until its recent closure, but arguments for an improved site have ramped up following the recent opening of a new housing estate with no such facility of its own.

Describing the authority’s decision to remove the goal posts as “theft”, Cllr Rogers said he reported the matter to police as it was not established until after the fact that council officers had taken them away.

North Wales Police confirmed that it had received a report in relation to the posts being “stolen”, but Cllr Rogers has since confirmed the withdrawal of his complaint after the authority stated it was their officers that took them away.

A spokesman for Anglesey Council said no permission had been sought to carry out the work on the council-owned land, but that they “remained committed” to working with others to find a suitable location for a new playing field in the village.

“The county council’s permission was not sought to extend the existing play area onto the former school field,” said the spokesman.

“Due to safety concerns we have removed the equipment and retained them for safe keeping.

“We remain committed to working with both the Community Council and Senedd Member Rhun ap Iorwerth, to find a suitable location for a playing field for the community of Dwyran.

“However, this section of the field is for sale on the open market and the remaining field is to be included in a flood alleviation scheme in the new year.”

Fellow ward councillor Bryan Owen criticised the authority’s actions after donating the goals himself.

He said: “In my view the children should come first, and finding a new site could potentially take many years. What are they meant to do in the meantime?

“The pitch has been used for years and it feels morally wrong to take this away from them now. It’s worth more as a sports pitch and adds nothing really to the school building they are trying to sell.

“After the closure of the school, what exactly is the legacy for the children of Dwyran?”

But the island’s Senedd Member, Rhun ap Iorwerth, said: “I’m working with the people of Dwyran, having visited in August, and have since received a very favourable response from Anglesey Council in terms of finding a solution for the children of the village.

“I’ve shared the offer with the community council and am looking forward to working with them in any way to help make this happen.

“The solution would be likely to involve a new site as I understand the school field has been earmarked as an important part of flood alleviation plans after recent floods in the village.

“The important thing is that children in Dwyran have somewhere to play.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter