Vandalism to former Naafi Site
7th November 2009
Following repeated vandalism and anti-social behaviour around the former Naafi site, the land is to be fenced, to hopefully deter the offenders away from the area.

Since the forces families shop closed in the late 1980's, the site has slowly become a magnet for a minority of young people to congregate and deface the buildings with graffiti, carry out burglary and extensive damage to the property. Many people have voiced their concern on the village forum for over seven years saying this area is an eyesore in the community and only attracts the bad to the village and gives a poor impression, especially being located adjacent to the Lyneham Primary School.

The forces shop was auctioned by Andrews & Robertson, London as Lot 48 on the 23 July 2009 for £140,000 to a property developer based in Southampton and its future use is still to be decided. It had been reported that the 630 square metre building contains asbestos, which put a restriction on any possible renovation of this derelict military asset. The property particulars identified a few clauses which prevented immediate demolition of all the property, landscaping or structure renovation in the land sale boundary. The Scout and Guide hut is still subject to a twenty-one year lease contract from the Ministry of Defence to the Scout Association Trust Corporation and still has for a few more years left until the lease expires and therefore will remain in its present location.

St Joseph's Roman Catholic church still registered as a place of worship, awaits formal decisions to be made to allow the building to be either decommissioned, demolished or change of use.

Within a short period of the sale and closure of the forces second-hand charity shop closure, the shop windows were smashed. These heavy duty panels were boarded up for safety reasons but this still did not deter the vandals.

Wiltshire Police have reported that are regularly called to the site following reported disturbance and incidents of young people congregating and forcing entry into the derelict building. The issue of vandalism and anti-social behaviour has been raised at police and council meetings, so a decision has been made to control access to the privately owned site. The mini recycling facility has been removed from the car park and will be relocated in the community. The land will be fenced in with access to the Scout and Guide hut controlled by a lockable gate.

Many villagers have aired their concern at the unnecessary actions of so-called bored young people. A young caring lady, who has lived in the village all her life is disturbed to find the attitudes of some young people today.

She said: "I was a youth not that long ago only 25 now growing up in Lyneham my parents taught me right from wrong. There was probably less opportunities for young people then than there are now. Did I vandalise the streets? No! Did my friends? No! "

"We did go around the village and usually rode our bikes and yes maybe we did sit on the chip shop wall it was "cool" but if someone asked us to move we would. We had fun but did not cause havoc, we are lucky that in the village it is only a minority but this is a larger minority than when I was 15/16 only 10 years ago"

"Surely this is do with the education these youngsters are receiving at home. Boredom is no excuse for vandalism. I think we are fortunate as a village that we have relatively little trouble but I do think young peoples attitudes are changing and are living more in a culture everything should be done for them and that by swearing and drinking at young ages they are all grown up when in fact I think the young people need to slow down there process of growing up you are a very short time a child and a very long time an adult."

Some valid points have been made here and it is accurate to say, that consideration is seriously lacking by these offenders. Maybe, when they realise what damage they are doing to other peoples hard earned property, they might stop this vandalism and anti-social trend.

The RAF Lyneham Community Worker Lisa Mitchell has spearheaded, with countless support from community authorities, to provide exceptional recreational facilities for the young people. A state of the art 'Aeropark' was provided, youth shelter, activity goal post and new projects are currently being progressed and hopefully following financial support we will see more facilities provided.