Car abandoned in Fordlands reserve labelled 'disgusting'

The car abandoned in a Fordlands park. Photo / Supplied

The actions of a person or group of people who left a smashed up car in a public reserve after having "trashed" the area have been labelled a "disgrace" by a local councillor.

But the Fordlands Community Association says this kind of vandalism happens in all communities, not just Fordlands.

Councillor and Rotorua Lakes Council sport and recreation leader Charles Sturt said a car had been "absolutely trashed" and left in Wrigley Rd Reserve, also known as Huia Lyons Reserve.

"The wheels are taken off, everything inside has been damaged."

The damaged reserve. Photo / Supplied

Sturt said he was contacted by a Fordlands resident after the incident.

He said the resident had told him the car was "screaming around the reserve".

The car abandoned in a Fordlands park. Photo / Supplied

"People are disgusted by it," Sturt said.

"I don't think it will be hugely costly to repair but it's a disgrace. We spend hundreds of thousands on our reserves and some idiot trashes it."

A Fordlands Community Association spokeswoman said it was unfortunate this had happened but these incidents were not isolated to Fordlands.

"It's not just a Fordlands problem.

"Of course it's frustrating. It's frustrating for anyone."

She said the group was proud of the community they lived in.

But Sturt said this was the only case of a car driving around a park he knew of in the last year.

"I follow these things very closely and it certainly doesn't happen in Ngongotahā, Mourea.

"This is not an everyday event."

However, he said, a small group generally ruined things for the wider public, bringing up the recent pause on the public bus service travelling down Wrigley Rd and Ford Rd.

Councillor Charles Sturt says the car is a disgrace. Photo / File

"It's the latest in a long list of episodes of total disrespect for public and private property."

Sturt said the council would need to put a fence around the boundary to stop vehicles getting in.

In a statement police said the car in the reserve had been reported. "The caller reported the wheels were missing and the windscreen was smashed. There's no mention of it being stolen."