A community group has been left “bitterly disappointed” after racist and anti-Semitic graffiti appeared on one of its new benches just weeks after they were put in place.
Castle Douglas Rotary’s Forward Group raised thousands of pounds, with help from Scotmid, the Co-op and Tesco, to install seating and picnic tables at Market Hill.
But on Monday graffiti – described as “derogatory silly nonsense” by the group’s chairwoman Tracy Walker – appeared.
She said: “It’s just bitterly disappointing. I couldn’t believe it. My daughter was out a walk on Monday night and called me to say there was writing all over the circular bench.
“It is really disappointing as it’s thousands of pounds worth of equipment that we’ve just installed up there.
“The park has been there for years and there’s no graffiti because it’s well situated.
“There’s residential streets and traffic, it’s quite an open space, whereas Carlingwark Park is a bit more secluded.
“We never, ever expected this to happen, especially in such a short space of time.
“We’ve a huge coronation event up there in May and we were hoping the benches were in situ for it to let the community enjoy an event. Instead of that we’re running about sorting things.”
The benches and tables were installed last month and the Forward group had also been working on plans to improve the play park at Market Hill.
Mrs Walker added: “We’ve very kindly been donated timber from Oliver Ansbro, which owns TAS Building Supplies, to make an outdoor storytelling area for children.
“We’re making a big chair, the benches, and mushroom toadstools which again are all going to be made from timber. Are these going to be defaced as well?”
By Tuesday lunchtime, the vandals had returned in a “not very successful” bid to remove the graffiti, which Mrs Walker has reported to the police.
Sergeant Colin Scott said: “A report was made to police that sometime between April 1 and 4 a wooden picnic bench located near to the Market Hill in Castle Douglas has been vandalised with offensive graffiti scratched onto it. Enquiry is ongoing. Police are appealing for witnesses to this crime to come forward and contact police on 101 quoting reference number PDG0064310423.”
