Vandals who trashed Kirriemuir beauty spot toilets before the ink had dried on a new deal for volunteers to keep them open have been slammed by community leaders.
The Den has been a regular target for hooligans leading to fears that the doors might have to be permanently shut because of the rising cost of repairs.
But the Kirriemuir Regeneration Group which stepped in to successfully re-open the Camera Obscura on The Hill had been in the final stages of arranging a partnership with the local authority to take over the running of the toilets in an arrangement due to come into place at the beginning of this month.
Repaired and ready to reopen, the loos have been hit once again, leaving locals raging.
Damage included a toilet being smashed to pieces and local councillor Jeanette Gaul has led condemnation of the “outrageous” vandalism.
“I am absolutely furious about this and somebody in Kirriemuir must know who did it so I hope we can track down those responsible,” she said.
“We closed the toilets because the vandalism was costing a lot of money and as a council we have difficult budget pressures.
“If we put more resources into continually having to repair the damage then we would basically have to decide what other service to stop,” added Mrs Gaul.
“But the council wants to work with community groups and one of the reasons we were so keen for the Kirriemuir Regeneration Group to become involved was the hope that it might stop the vandalism.
“The council has painted them up and got the toilets ready for transfer to the group to take over the volunteer management of them and then this happens — it is outrageous.”
“It’s absolutely terrible but we will work with the group to ensure that they can re-open.
“However there has to be a worry that if there is any further vandalism then the toilets will close.”
Under the planned arrangement, the community group intends to open the facility all year round, with reduced hours during the winter months.
The local authority would continue to be responsible for planned maintenance and major repairs, with an annual sum paid to KRG to offset the costs of operation.
