A nursery hut used to store play equipment next to a bustling Edinburgh attraction has reportedly been the subject of vandalism in order for people to obtain firewood.
The Portobello Toddler's Hut, next to the popular beach, has been damaged during the amber weather warning issued for Edinburgh and the Lothians, with a local restaurant posting a video on Twitter and saying that people used the wood from the hut as firewood to burn on Portobello Beach.
The shocking vandalism was reported by Civerinos, who's popular pizza restaurant is located right next to the nursery. On Wednesday, July 20, they took to Twitter, saying: "Local Porty nursery outside area that was destroyed for firewood last night. Everyone in today to put back together and save what can be salvaged."
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The restaurant also attached a video which shows damage to one of the huts used by the small nursery to store equipment that children use throughout the day.
Another video, seen by Edinburgh Live, shows further damage to other areas in the courtyard that looks out onto the promenade, an area that throughout last week, was flooded with locals when temperatures topped 30C.
Civerinos confirmed that the police were made aware of the supposed vandalism to the property, with planks of scrap wood pictured littered around the courtyard and noting that staff have been forced to rebuild and repair parts of the hut.
They claim that it was vandalised in order for people to use the wood to burn a fire on the beach, something that in the summer months has become a common occurrence. Unfortunately, some people appear to have become desperate for wood and have targeted the nursery's hut.
On Monday and Tuesday, July 18 and 19, campaigners and councillors also took to Twitter to complain about the sea of 'illegal' parkers in the Portobello area, as hundreds of people flocked to the beach. Additional resources were drafted in by Edinburgh Council to deal with the situation, although a local councillor called for a long-term evaluation on what can be done to improve the re-occurring situation.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police in Edinburgh have been made aware of vandalism to a premises in the Beach Lane area of Portobello, which was reported on Wednesday, 20 July, 2022. Enquiries are at an early stage.”
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