5 DECEMBER 2006:  MINDLESS thieves have sickened Harrogate Borough Council's Parks Team.  Seats donated by families as a lasting reminder of loved ones and which were presented to the Valley Gardens, Harrogate for the public to enjoy have been destroyed for their metal work. 

 

Head of Parks and Open Spaces, Patrick Kilburn, has asked keen gardeners and all households to be on the lookout in case they get offered these distinctive seat ends.  "Like nearly all of our seats in Harrogate, the metal work on these benches depicts a serpent motif commonly used to symbolise the practice and profession of medicine.  They started to be used in Harrogate at the turn of the 20^th century to recognise the healing powers and vibrancy of the town's spa.  And of course they continue to be used because they are part of Harrogate's history.

 

"Any vandalism or theft is upsetting but this is particularly distressing for the families who donated these seats and they will be replaced as soon as possible.  The metal frames have no real monetary value as scrap metal and we can only hope that they haven't been stolen to order.  We will be increasing the Park Ranger's patrol of the gardens.  We would also ask anyone with any knowledge of these thefts, or indeed if they get offered the serpents, that they contact the police or the council's parks team."  ENDS