People have been setting an "awful example" to children by jumping into the lake at Cosmeston Country Park and verbally abusing rangers at a country park.
Adults have been spotted jumping into the water at Cosmeston Country Park in the Vale of Glamorgan despite being asked not to by the council. When rangers have approached the irresponsible adults, they've been met with a torrent of abuse. Even worse, deliberate fires - which the council condemned as "arson pure and simple" - have been started at the popular beauty spot in Penarth.
The Vale of Glamorgan council said: "We are disappointed to learn of a number of incidents, at Cosmeston Country Park this past weekend, where adults were seen jumping in to the lake with young children. When confronted by our Park Ranger colleagues, the adults became verbally abusive toward them. This is an awful example being set by supposedly responsible adults to young children.
"Further to these incidents, park rangers also report that fires had been started deliberately causing damage. This is arson. Pure and simple."
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A Vale of Glamorgan spokesperson said there had been some "isolated incidents involving people entering the water", the most concerning of which were adults jumping into the water with children.
The spokesman added: “The dangers of swimming in open water should be clear to all. Cold water shock can kill in minutes while there may be dangerous obstructions beneath the waterline and no lifeguard on hand to assist. We would strongly advise parents not to take their children to locations where swimming is prohibited if that is their intention.
"Having park rangers or the councils enforcement team respond to incidents of this type comes at a cost to the council and consequently the council taxpayer. “The same is also true with regard to the lighting of fires while repair work can also be expensive."
Rangers at Cosmeston will now work alongside officers from South Wales Police, which has stepped up patrols to curb the irresponsible behaviour. A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "We are working with Vale of Glamorgan Council to address these issues. Verbal abuse towards park rangers and arson are unacceptable. Action will be taken against those found responsible."
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