Pebble rebels worry

POLICE fear the Boathouse business centre at the heart of Wisbech's £50million waterfront regeneration could come under attack from vandals throwing stones from the other side of the river.

Sergeant Dave Bax's comments came after police arrested three youths for throwing stones at boats moored in Wisbech harbour.

The stones are in a small gulley between the concrete road, which leads from the old Nimax site in North End to West Parade, and the wall next to the River Nene.

Sgt Bax said: "When we questioned the youths, they all said they picked up these hand-sized pebbles from the gulley.

"The front of the boathouse is going to be glass windows and, when that's completed, vandals will see if they can reach the boathouse with these stones - and with a bit of practice I reckon they could.

"This has been a problem for eight months and we have now caught the culprits, but if this gets concreted over we would not have any problems of this kind."

Sgt Bax's comments were backed up by a spokesman from Cambridgeshire County Council, owners of the gulley, who said: "If children are committing a criminal offence using the stones then action needs to be taken.

"But this stretch of gravel has been there for more than 20 years and helps drain the road, so if it is to be covered there would have to be drainage provision installed and it would cost tens of thousands of pounds."

The spokesman added that Fenland District Council approached the county council about laying asphalt "and we said yes providing they paid for it".

The youths were caught with the use of CCTV and evidence from witnesses. A 14-year-old youth was reprimanded and no further action was taken against a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old.

A Fenland Council spokesman said the authority was looking at ways to resolve the issue.