Residents urged to stand against vandals following tree attack

FORFAR: Attempt to ruin Christmas in town prompts call to give up the culprits

Forfar residents have been urged to take a stand against a rising tide of vandalism in the town.

Conservative councillor Braden Davy hit out following the latest attack after vandals attempted to ruin the town’s Christmas.

Police are investigating after the protective fencing surrounding the town’s Christmas tree was broken, before live wires were ripped out and the junction box was smashed.

In April police appealed for information about vandalism to cars in Forfar after a youth jumped on the roof and windscreen of a vehicle and a wing mirror was damaged on another.

There was also a spate of vandalism across the town in the summer which left a newsagent, coffee shop owner and takeaway business out of pocket, as well as the public purse being hit by hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

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I just don’t understand why people do this and think they can get away with it. COUNCILLOR BRADEN DAVY

Five trees were also found snapped in half in Reid Park and volunteer gardeners were also left picking up the pieces after vandals trashed flowerbeds in a town centre park.

“I just don’t understand why people do this and think they can get away with it,” said Mr Davy.

He said someone must know who was responsible for the latest attack on the town’s Christmas tree and has urged people to report the culprits to the police.

He said: “Not only is this idiotic, by cutting live wires it could have left them seriously injured or even killed.”

After Angus Council pulled the plug on supplying lights throughout the district, community groups have rallied together to illuminate their towns.

Forfar Action Network members hold a number of fundraisers throughout the year including a bingo tea, a supermarket bag pack, a ghost walk and a crowdfunder.

All the money is re-invested in the lights and the official switch-on ceremony at The Cross on East High Street has been a firm fixture in the lives of many families.

The lights were repaired again by contractor Ness Electrical but Mr Davy said the vandalism follows a spate of anti-social behaviour in the town.