Call for action as vandals hit Blair
High number of incidents blasted as ‘unacceptable’
Local councillors and volunteers have slammed the recent spate of vandalism in Blairgowrie and Rattray, saying that it is unacceptable and that action must be taken.
Possible moves that could be considered include applying for dispersal orders for hotspots in the town and more collaboration between police, Perth and Kinross Council and local groups and organisations.
There have also been suggestions that closed circuit television (CCTV) be installed in the town.
The calls for action came after seven metal poles along the side of the bridge over the River Ericht between Blairgowrie and Rattray were removed last week - with at least two thrown into the river below.
The poles are used by awardwinning environmental group Blair in Bloom for hanging baskets during the summer months, and are also used by the Blairgowrie and Rattray Illuminations Committee for the town’s Christmas lights.
This is the latest in a number of incidents in the town which has seen the tree lights in the Wellmeadow vandalised before they were installed, and a bullet proof perspex cover over the well in the town centre smashed.
Police Scotland are also appealing f or i nformation regarding a number of incidents in Alyth, including vandalism to the Story Box telephone box in Market Square and damage to two wooden benches and a stone cairn at Alyth Community Woodland.
Mar y Birch, chair of Blair in
Bloom, is concerned by the apparent increase in the number of such incidents in the area.
She said: “The poles are made of iron and were bolted in. It couldn’t have been a quick job to get them out, it was deliberately targeted.
“And then to have just thrown the poles in the river as well, it seems so pointless.
“It ’s not an isolated incident either, the bench at Coronation Corner was ripped out of concrete monoblocks recently and thrown in the plants, and the stone seat on the Riverside was damaged too.”
Mary added :“I know it’ s a controversial issue but I think there may be a case for CCTV in the town, and more lights on the bridge.
“I know it can give a bad impression of a town but how else are these people going to get caught?
“It’s quite difficult to be positive when a minority is always spoiling it for the majority, we put a lot of work into making the town look nice but we won’t let them beat us. We’re made of sterner stuff than that.
“And it is good to know we have the support of the community council and local councillors.”
SNP councillor Tom McEwan described the antisocial behaviour and vandalism seen recently in Blairgowrie and Rattray as “wholly unacceptable” and said action must be taken.
He said: “Per th and Kinross Council has an antisocial behaviour strategy which relies on a partnership approach to tackling these issues.
“It is time for these partners - the PKC Safer Communities team, local police, the community council and the elected councillors - to meet and work together to solve the problems we are now seeing.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their community. It is unacceptable for people to be afraid to leave their homes, to use public spaces, or go about their dayto-day business, because they feel intimidated by groups of people hanging about.
“A serious option and one that must be considered is for the police to apply for a dispersal order to deal with people who are involved in antisocial behaviour. This allows a senior police officer to designate an area such as the Wellmeadow, set dates and times of such an order and obtain agreement in partnership for its implementation.
“This would empower officers to disperse groups or individuals and if individuals refuse to follow the officer’s instructions, they would be committing an offence and could be arrested.
“This would be a very serious route to take but one that cannot be dismissed.”
Councillor Caroline Shiers added: “Enough is enough. We have to identify who has carried out this vandalism and bring it to an end.
“The volunteers at Blair in Bloom work so hard to ensure the town looks great through the summer months and then in the winter the Illuminations Committee use the brackets on the bridge for the Christmas lights. The money to fund all of this is raised locally and takes a lot of effort.
“I am meeting with council officers regarding the community wardens being more visible around the town and also have been in contact with the police to ask them to help by increasing the presence of officers in the town centre over the coming months to reduce incidences of vandalism.
“I think it is important though that this is all kept in perspective and that we remember these are the actions of a very small group and that the vast majority of local residents would never engage in these activities and are as scunnered with these recent acts as myself, Blair in Bloom and the community council are.”
Ian Richards, vice-chair of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council, commented: “Any vandalism in the town is to be regretted but the current level is completely unacceptable.
“There are so many groups and individuals in our community who willingly give their time to help make it a place to be proud of and yet there are others who seem only to want to destroy it.
“The community council understands that there are far too few entertainment opportunities for our young people but this in no way excuses wanton destruction.
“We would appeal to members of the public to be vigilant and to report incidents if they happen to see them, the lack of a meaningful police presence does not help the situation but the public should still report acts of vandalism, if we don’t report these issues then crime figures become meaningless.
Councillor Bob Brawn said: “Some members of our community work hard to improve the town and how it looks but a small number think it fun to destroy that work.
“We need to stand up against this mindless vandalism so I would ask if anyone has any information, then please report it to the police.”