A memorial garden being built for Blantyre’s victims of Covid-19 has been vandalised.
The large polytunnel garden, owned by Blantyre Soccer Academy, started to take shape back in June as a community initiative remembering those from the town who lost their lives during the pandemic.
But staff and volunteers were devastated to discover that vandals had struck over the weekend destroying the £2200 polytunnel and wrecking the inside.
Academy chairman Jimmy Whelan told the Advertiser: “Vandals have struck again at our latest project to the rear of our hub, our very own community garden and Covid-19 memorial, in which we are working in partnership with local groups.
“It looks like they have climbed over the eight-foot palisade fence to gain access to the polytunnel with the intent to destroy it. There is a lot of damage, which looks like it was done from the inside.
“It is totally disheartening for us, as over lockdown we built the polytunnel and kitted it out with electric and water and have big plans for a full community garden with a Covid-19 memorial area in memory of everyone from Blantyre who passed away during this pandemic.”
The academy have long been the victims of vandalism over the years, with the windows of their new minibus smashed in back in 2018 and in 2019 they were the victims of theft from the back of their van whilst moving to their new hub premises at Birch Place.
Jimmy added: “We have CCTV fitted all around our premises and hopefully we have caught those responsible on camera.”
