Scout group hit by break-in and suspected arson attack

A scout group is assessing the future of its canoe centre in Ashton, after it was the victim of a break-in and a suspected arson attack in consecutive nights last week.

The container at North Tameside’s Scout Canoe Centre, at the rear of Oxford Park on Pottinger Street, was broken into last Wednesday afternoon (25 September) at around 5pm. 

It’s understood tents from the container, which the group say has been there for many years, were left strewn around Oxford Park and surrounding streets. 

Ken Severs, the Canoe Centre Manager, fitted a temporary lock following the incident, in which nothing is thought to have been taken. 

But the following evening (Thursday 26 September), scout volunteer Alan Fish said he received calls from the Active Tameside centre in Oxford Park and the fire and rescue service informing him that the container was on fire. 

“It was terrible to see all of the fire-damaged canoes, surfboards, helmets, bouncy aids and many tents,” Alan said. 

“The canoes were used by various Scout groups just to have a canoe up and down the canal and all that equipment has now been lost.

“It’s one less activity the Scouts can do to gain canoeing experience. About 100 tents were actually collected from a music festival, as nowadays people don't take their tents home when the festival finishes.

“These were in the process of being sorted into complete tents with the correct poles and would have been given to Scout groups.” 

But, on a positive note, the scouting community came together to help with the clean-up operation at the centre - the future of which is now being looked into. 

Alan went on: “After the fire, I put a call-out to scout leaders asking if any could come down and help clear the site to make it safe.

“As Scouts is a team operation, 10 leaders answered the call and offered to help, the site was cleared within a couple of hours.

“The future of the centre will now need to be looked at. Firstly, the Scouts are hoping to get a free skip or truck to take all the burnt equipment to the tip, then the container will need a clean and repaint.

“Then work on grants will then start to replace the canoes and safety equipment for the Scouts to gain experiences of canoeing on the canal again.

“It is a very sad world we live in today. Scouting was set up by Baden Powall over a hundred years ago to help young people to be better citizens in all our communities and yet some young people, for a laugh, want to destroy that aim which was for them as well.” 

North Tameside Scout District have groups in Ashton and Droylsden. 

Anyone who can help the scout group in any way following the aforementioned incidents, or would like to join can email Alan at alan.fish@ntscouts.org.uk, call him on 07931 765120 or visit www.ntscouts.org.uk for more information.