Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Disgust as caterpillar trail hit by vandalism
AN Angus councillor has slammed the “shocking” actions of youths who va nda l ised a n a r t ist ic trail dedicated to Covid-19 frontline workers.
Social media posts appear to show two youths picking up decorated stones, which formed part of a caterpillar trail at Arbroath’s Victoria Park, before throwing them on to the beach front.
Councillor Derek Wann, who represents the Arbroath East and Lunan ward, was among those who criticised the act of vandalism, describing it as “shocking.”
The Tory councillor said: “I saw the video posted on Facebook and I was totally shocked.
“The trail is bringing a bit of smile and cheer to the town and for someone to go and throw it away on disappointing.
“There are plenty of other stones that can be thrown into the water, rather than the ones that have been painted.”
Another online post appeared to show an adult with the children, who observed their actions but did nothing to stop them.
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Mr Wann added: “I honestly couldn’t believe it. I don’t know if it was a parent or carer but it’s mindlessness.
“It’s a minority of people though, and an hour or so after the video was posted online there were kids down there helping to put the stones back.”
There was also
fury
from members of the local community, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment at the actions of the youths and the adult.
One person said: “I cannot believe the adult ignored these kids.”
Others were full of praise for the youths who stepped in to help repair the trail.
One said: “Well done – thank you for recovering all the other children’s hard work.”
Several caterpillar trails have been started across Dundee and Angus, including in Carnoustie and Monifieth, and many have been a tribute to frontline workers dealing with the pandemic.
The caterpillar trails are formed by decorating rocks and adding them to each other – with some stretching as long as 100 metres.