An outdoor swimming pool and public toilets have been targeted by vandals in the last week.

Dartmouth’s Outdoor Pool was broken into between 5pm last Friday and 1pm on Saturday.

Police have confirmed that the shed and lighting were damaged at the pool on Milton Lane. And public toilets in the centre of Dartmouth may have to close after a spate of vandalism.

Jo Tucker, from the outdoor pool group, posted on Facebook: “It is with deep regret that we have to advise that our community pool was broken into last night. Ridiculous and pointless vandalism has caused damage to the property.

“It is devastating that this has happened when the Dartmouth community has fought so hard to maintain the pool.”

She reported on Sunday that, after tidying up the pool area and pulling items out of the pool, the group was left with a damaged fence, a shed and two dead security lights. This she predicted would cost around £200 to repair or replace.

Meanwhile, Dartmouth Town Council, which recently took over the management of public toilets in the town, said they had been repeatedly damaged in recent weeks.

Not long after acquiring the toilets from South Hams District Council, the toilets in Coronation Park were vandalised.

Last week, the ladies toilets door in the Royal Avenue Gardens was kicked in and the culprits attempted to kick down the men’s door too.

The council said the culprits then climbed on to the roof and in through the window of the mens’ toilets. A toilet roll was set alight and one of the newly purchased toilet roll holders was kicked off the wall.

Earlier this week, on Monday evening, someone broke the handle on one of the disabled toilets which meant the facility was out of use in Royal Avenue Gardens.

On Tuesday, the council said it was working hard to source a new door handle as quickly as possible and apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Cllr Robin Springett said: “The sustained attack on the toilets within Royal Avenue Gardens was discussed during a recent meeting with Sgt Simons and the new chief superintendent for South Devon.

“Councillors spoke about how, if this vandalism continues, the town council may need to look at closing the toilets because the council cannot afford to keep playing for repairs. 

The council would like to ask if anyone has any information about this vandalism to contact the town council or Sgt Iain Simons from the Devon and Cornwall Police.”

Cllr Steve Smith said there had been a spate of juvenile crime in Dartmouth recently and wondered if it was the same group causing it.

“What we do know is that our community police support is undermanned and underfunded and pressure should be put on the Police and Crime Commissioner.”

He said he had spoken to some youngsters in the town who said “boredom was rife”.

He explained that today in town there are organised groups such as the Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, Sea Cadets, rowing club, football club, rugby club, community-run clubs at the Decks Youth Club, youth clubs, the leisure centre etc. He added: “In a community that has a population of less than 6,000 to me that is fun-packed but still I am told, as an elected town councillor for Townstal, that some youngsters are bored.”

He has asked parents to ask their children what’s missing in the town to remove boredom and to contact him on Facebook or by emailing him at [email protected].

From this, Cllr Smith has said he will come up with something to lobby the town council and the TQ6 Community Partnership.

A pool spokesman said: “The committee and trustees of the Dartmouth Outdoor Pool are most disappointed that the outdoor community pool was broken into one evening last week. Stupid and pointless vandalism was made to the property resulting in criminal damage to the fence, our new shed and security lighting. There is nothing of value at the pool, which makes this even more frustrating and we have tidied up and removed the items that were thrown into the pool itself. 

“There have been so many supportive comments made on our Facebook page and offers of funding and labour to repair, just endorses the love for the outdoor pool. 

“Dartmouth Academy does have CCTV which covers the pool and surround but unfortunately the police do not have the time, resources or funding to follow this up. We have therefore asked the academy if they could spare the time to look at the CCTV.

“There seems to be numerous petty and mindless acts of vandalism in and around Dartmouth at the moment and we really hope that it doesn’t take an injury or worse to get the perpetrators the help that they most obviously need.” 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on [email protected] or call 101 quoting CR/108984/18.