At least 25 cars damaged in overnight vandalism attacks
Police are investigating following a wave of car vandalisms across North Edinburgh. A series of incidents occurred overnight between Sunday and Monday and took place across the area -incidents were reported in Granton, Boswall, Trinity and Hawthornvale. Continue reading North Edinburgh hit by car vandalism spree
Drivers turned up at Pilton Equalities Project’s yard for work this morning only to discover the organisation’s minibus fleet had been wrecked by vandals overnight.
Minibuses were broken into and goods were stolen during the incident. At least three minibuses are now off the road awaiting replacement back windows – drivers and volunteers have made running repairs to others to ensure essential pickups can go ahead today.
PEP manager Helen Tait said: “I am angry and I am upset. This is so pointless, there is nothing to be gained by doing things like this. We now have to get three buses out to Newbridge today to get their windows replaced – if we don’t, we will be forced to cancel jobs and let people down next week.
“As well as the inconvenience, there is the cost involved – like all voluntary organisations money is tight and this is expenditure we could well do without. We’re now forced to spend a lot of money – hundreds of pounds – on repairs, that’s money that should have been spent on improving services for our clients. It’s sickening.”
If you have any information on the incident please contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Irresponsible tenants who deliberately damage their homes may have to pay for repairs under proposals being considered by the City of Edinburgh Council. Councillors will discuss plans for a Rechargeable Repairs Policy at next week’s meeting of the Health, Social Care and Housing Committee.
The Council currently carries out around 146,000 repairs every year at a cost of £20m. The majority of these repairs are in response to direct requests from tenants with the rest made up of planned repairs.
Introducing a Rechargeable Repairs Policy has received strong support from tenants with 88% who took part in a recent survey saying they were in favour of the idea. Residents surveyed also showed that 66% believed the policy would act as a deterrent to tenants who deliberately cause damage.
Focus groups held with the Edinburgh Tenants Federation, neighbourhood housing staff and equalities groups indicated positive support for the proposal, and any new system could also be used to identify vulnerable tenants who require additional support.
Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council (pictured above), said: “The implementation of a rechargeable repairs policy has received broad support from everyone we’ve spoken to. Where irresponsible tenants damage or neglect their home all other tenants have to pay for it – that’s not fair. All tenants are responsible for looking after their own homes and the Capital Coalition gave a commitment to enforcing tenancy agreements to ensure they fulfil their good conduct responsibilities. An added benefit to such a scheme is the potential to identify vulnerable tenants who we can then direct to various support services so they can receive extra help they need.”
Betty Stevenson, chair of the Edinburgh Tenants Federation, said they were happy to support the idea. “Such a policy will ensure repair costs are targeted at repairs to improve homes for tenants who are in genuine need. If implemented correctly this will help to increase tenants’ awareness of their responsibilities,” she sad.
Doug Anthoney, from charity Age Scotland, said: “We are pleased that the City of Edinburgh Council is looking at robust procedures around their repairs recharging policy to ensure that vulnerable individuals are protected. It is reassuring that a flagging system could be established to identify people who may actually be in need of assistance or support to help them cope at home, which should also reduce the risk of them incurring financial penalties in the future.”
The proposal will be discussed at the Council’s Health, Social Care and Housing Committee next Tuesday (11 September) and, if agreed, it’s expected that any Rechargeable Repairs Policy would come into effect in Spring 2013.
Vandals have caused damage estimated at £2500 at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre. Up to three young people slashed the Centre’s polytunnel and destroyed young plants between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. The attack comes just a week after a scarecrow was set ablaze at the Centre.
Staff turned up at work on Wednesday morning to find a polytunnel used by the Centre’s gardening groups slashed open, and their worst fears were realised upon closer inspection – the tunnel’s contents had been scattered and destroyed.
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s Elizabeth Graham, who supports the gardening groups, said: ‘I must admit I shed a tear when I saw the damage that had been done. Our gardeners had been growing on some young plants and these have been destroyed – it’s too late in the season now to start this process again – it’s so very sad. I hoped we could maybe repair the polytunnel using a strong tape but the damage is too severe. This is such a pointless act and I do worry that this may have been carried out by some young people who use the Centre – or who certainly know people who use the Centre. It’s very upsetting and such a waste”.
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre is covered by CCTV cameras and police are now studying tapes. It’s understood that the culprits have been captured on camera.
And despite the vandalism episode, today’s Family Fun Day goes ahead at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre. The fun starts at 11am – all welcome.
