RUFF JUSTICE..
Riddle over whereabouts of missingTwa’Dugs statue
A Village pooch is having a ruff time of it and been left looking lonely after its pal vanished into thin air.
The much-loved Twa’ Dugs statue has been reduced to one with East Kilbride residents paws-ing for thought and wondering when the doggies will be reunited.
Folk were barking mad when one of the statues disappeared a few years ago after it was cut clean off its plinth – only to be discovered dumped in a back garden a few weeks later by former councillor Alice-Marie Mitchell.
It was returned to South Lanarkshire Council with the hope that it would be repaired and put back in its rightful place.
However, the latest twist in this bizarre tale is that the statue has gone walkies with council chiefs admitting they have no idea where it is.
Now East Kilbride Central North councillor Joe Fagan is appealing for anyone who has a lead on where the statue is to get in touch.
And he is calling for a new four-legged friend to be installed for the lonesome pooch which remains if it can’t be found.
“Several years ago the Twa’ Dugs street art was damaged when someone forcibly dislodged one of the statues in Kittoch Street,” he told the News. “I understand that it was found dumped in a garden and returned to the council. Since then there has been no permanent reunion of the two pieces.
“I went round the houses trying to get some answers but nobody at South Lanarkshire could tell me. The dog has gone missing for a second time while it was supposed to be in storage. To this day, it has never been found.
“Many in the community are worried that it might have been thrown out or melted down.
“The sculpture was damaged when it was removed but it was always the council’s intention that the dog should be fully restored and returned to the Village.”
Councillor Fagan added: “This is a wellliked and well-known piece of street art in the town.
“It would be a shame if one of the dogs were to be lost forever.
“Even now, it is possible that someone knows where the missing statue is and they might be able to help reunite the two dogs.
“If anyone has any information that could be useful then I would urge them to contact me or the council.
“However, if after all this time the missing piece still cannot be located then, in my opinion, the council should start looking at how it could be replaced.
“If we can’t reunite the dog on Kittoch Street with its old friend then maybe it’s time to find it a new one.”
Pauline Elliott, head of planning and economic development, says the council does not have the statue and added: “Unfortunately part of the Twa Dugs statue was stolen a few years back.
“We can only presume it was stolen for the scrap value of the metal and are disappointed about the loss of a well-loved artwork through petty theft.
“The council does not retain the missing sculpture and, while there is currently no budget to replace it, indicative replacement costs have been obtained from the sculptor with a view to finding a solution.”