One of the bench seats was completely separated from the frame of this concrete picnic table that the East Bay Community Council set up at the East Bay sandbar for visitors to enjoy. ContributedArticle contentHarry Pollett regularly strolls along the East Bay sandbar to get a bit of exercise and watch people enjoy the popular picnic and swimming spot near his home.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentHowever, the scene was less than idyllic recently when he discovered that someone had destroyed two of the large concrete tables community members had set up for visitors.Article contentArticle content“It’s pretty disheartening,” said Pollett, a member of the East Bay Community Council whose home overlooks the sandbar from a hill on nearby Route 4.Article contentArticle content“Some very robust and expensive picnic tables were put in and some individual or individuals decided that it would be kind of fun to destroy them.Article content“I felt very sad about it that somebody would go to all that trouble just to cause harm.”Article content Large sections of concrete were chipped away from this table at the East Bay sandbar. ContributedArticle contentCOMMUNITY RAISED MONEYArticle contentThe community council held bake sales, flea markets and hosted pancake breakfasts to raise approximately $8,000 for the precast concrete tables that are situated along the sandy shoreline of the Bras d’Or Lake.Article contentPollett said two of the tables are now damaged beyond repair. One of the bench seats was completely separated from the frame and a large section of another seat was chipped away.Article content“They’ve only been there for about a year or so,” said Pollett. “To take that seat off the thing, that was probably three or four hours work. They had to chip away at it. They may have used a powered machine of some sort to do it or they may have just done it with a hammer and chisel, but that’s not something that you could do in five minutes. That was some serious damage. And moving the seat off table, I guess one person could do it but it would be easier for two people to do it.”Article contentArticle contentThe community council had already ordered two other tables before the vandalism occurred, which would have brought the total number to six. At a cost of approximately $2,000 each, Pollett isn’t sure when they’ll be able to afford to replace the two damaged tables.Article contentArticle content‘LOVELY PLACE’Article contentWhile Pollett admits the chances of catching the culprits are slim, he hopes getting the word out about the damage will make people more vigilant and perhaps make those responsible regret their actions.Article content“The sandbar is a lovely place and we want people to be able to enjoy it and this is not going to make it easier for people to enjoy. This isn’t right and something should be said. We should at least shame the people that did that,” he said.Article content“Maybe it would be better if the police are patrolling at night if they go across the sandbar just in case they encounter something like that.”Article contentArticle content
Vandals destroy concrete picnic tables at popular Cape Breton swimming spot
