Community garden hit by vandalism
VANDALISM at a community garden, where a fire has damaged a polytunnel, has been described as “completely unnecessary and completely mindless”.
A wooden table and shelves were destroyed during the blaze at Belhaven Community Garden.
The incident, which is thought to have taken place overnight on March 22, has been reported to police.
Naomi Barnes, volunteer co-ordinator at the Sustaining Dunbar project, was unhappy with the damage caused.
She said: “It is really frustrating, really disheartening and really limits what we can do, what we can grow and really puts people off using the space for what it is meant for.
“That is really frustrating.” The area, next to Belhaven Community Hospital, has been used by residents, community groups, staff and patients since 2012.
However, volunteers arriving the following morning were greeted by damage to the polytunnel and its wooden table and shelves.
Naomi told the Courier that for about 10 years the group had enjoyed an “almost problem-free existence” in the garden.
However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, issues with antisocial behaviour had escalated.
Problems with people cutting holes in the polytunnel had previously been noted and volunteers have kept a vandalism log, as well as speaking with police and community wardens.
Naomi said: “The majority of people are law-abiding citizens who go about their business.
“Then you have got a minority who spoil it for everybody.”
Pippa Swan, chairwoman of Dunbar Community Council, planned to raise the issue at the next meeting of the area’s community and police partnership (CAPP) next week.
She said: “I was genuinely shocked when I got Naomi’s message and saw the photographs.
“I was completely unaware they had been plagued by really quite chronic vandalism.
“It must be massively disheartening for all of them.”
Police Scotland have been approached for a comment.