Small petty acts of vandalism can leave large amounts of woe

It’s been a disheartening week for many across Angus.

Frequently in this column I’ve considered it a privilege to highlight the efforts of those whose ingenuity, enthusiasm and large volumes of elbow grease are making our communities brighter and better places to live in and visit.

Community groups who have taken on transferred assets proving too much of a burden for the local authority to maintain, developed ideas of their own – or both.

Such as the good folk of East Haven, who made a comfort break for walkers passing through the hamlet and twowheeled visitors on the national cycle route something to look forward to a little more than usual.

Since taking over the local toilets a few years ago, volunteers have transformed the wee block into a mini art gallery, affectionately dubbed the Loo-uvre.

Garden groups’ members revealed talents stretching beyond green fingers and into every other colour of the spectrum by creating paintings to hang on the walls of the toilets, operated by the East Haven Together charity.

Unfortunately, the artworks proved so attractive to someone they recently decided to relieve the Loo-uvre of three paintings.

East Haven Together’s response will be to pick up the paintbrushes and produce art to fill the spaces in time for the new season.

Up in Brechin, however, the latest in a series of vandalism incidents has cast doubt over the future of the all-weather pitch near the old leisure centre.

Padlocks were broken so neds could get in to leave smashed glass across the Inch facility, which has been a boon for youngsters who like a kickabout but live a bit away from the community campus.

And in Carnoustie, the feelgood factor left by the runaway success of the Open championship was tarnished after a banner promoting the excellent work of the Golf Memories group to help those suffering from dementia and memory loss conditions was ripped down.

These acts may not be high tariff heinous crimes in the eyes of the law, but they rightly bring anger and astonishment from within the communities affected by them.

And with the profile given to such incidents, hopefully there will also be some helpful information to bring those responsible to account. To contact our Angus reporters call 01382 575891 or send a letter to

Picture: Steve Macdougall. Paintings were stolen from the East Haven Loo-uvre.