CONTINUED vandalism is to blame for a ramp being closed at Petersfield's skateboard park, town councillors were told last week. The half pipe at Love Lane has been taped off after becoming too dangerous for children to use. Contracts manager Peter Jones presented a report of the park at a meeting of the town council's grounds committee on Thursday of last week. He believes vandals have been targeting the facility, which was recently described by Petersfield police sergeant Rhona Anderson as "a shambles." The report stated: "I have closed the half pipe as it has become dangerous. However the only method I have of closing this equipment is to surround it with hazard tape and put up warning notices. "Of course within a day or so I find the tape removed and the signs taken down. "There has been continued vandalism of this equipment, and parts of the structure have become unsafe. "New damage seems to occur on a daily basis and such frequency outstrips our ability to effect any previous repairs." But it is not only the half pipe which has been targeted, according to Mr Jones. "Further damage has been caused by unknown persons who have dug a large hole and attempted to build their own ramps using imported materials - bricks, mortar, timber and sheet materials," the report said. "This damage is of course expensive to remedy. "Curiously, our local police have stated that they do not regard this as criminal damage." But town mayor Vaughan Clarke was quick to point out that vandalism was carried out by a small minority, and praised the positive influence most children have in the community. He said: "There are hundreds and hundreds of children in this town who do enormous good and help charities, and the council does not actually support them." Mr Jones has asked a company to inspect the equipment and provide an estimate for repair work.