NEWPORT residents have welcomed the installation of safety railings around a water feature in Old Town Dock Riverside Park.

Newport City Council installed the new railings after safety concerns were raised with the Argus when the old ones were ripped out by vandals last month and dumped in the water.

Bill Reynolds, who walks his dogs twice a day in the park with his wife Rose, said he was relieved to see the railings. He said: “The new gate is excellent. It’s such a nice, pleasant park and we feel a lot safer now.

“Even for the youngsters who are hanging around down there at night, it won’t be as dangerous for them.”

But Mr Reynolds has warned that the pond surrounding the water feature has been contaminated by algae. “The water is still a mess and is full of toxic stuff,” he added. “It would be great if that was sorted out, too.” A spokesperson for Newport City Council said they were aware of the park’s issues, but wildlife is not present in the pond.

Another local resident, Donelle Jarvis, said the park – which is regularly used by office workers and children – had been attracting vandals for some time.

Ms Jarvis said: “I think patrols in the park by community officers may be a good idea for the preservation of this commemorative site.”

The park, which is between East Dock Road and Usk Way, opened two years ago as part of a regeneration scheme for the formerly derelict brownfield site.