Acts of anti-social behaviour committed by youths flocking to a funfair in Glenrothes in recent days have been roundly condemned.
Car and shop windows were smashed and vehicle wing mirrors were damaged in the town’s Woodside area by a gang of youngsters who had apparently visited Stirling’s Family Funfairs in Poplar Road.
The rides and attractions arrived on Thursday and will be open from 2.30pm to 8.45pm each day until Sunday, but it is understood that police patrols have had to be stepped up after the disorder over the weekend.
Business owner Colin Duncan, who runs the Madhouse Bakery in Woodside Road, said he was facing a bill of at least £1,000 after two of his windows were smashed.
“My wife and I have put a lot of hard work into the business and it’s something we could do without,” he stressed.
“We weren’t targeted for any reason, it’s just mindless violence.
“I believe they set a bin on fire at the back of the Co-op as well. They’ve just wanted to cause as much damage as possible.”
Local councillor Ross Vettraino said he had been contacted by a number of concerned people and questioned the logic of having the funfair so close to the community.
“I was against the funfair being held in Poplar Road in the first place because it had the potential for nuisance, and problems with parking,” he commented.
“One of my constituents e-mailed me on Saturday morning to say that car windows had been smashed, shop windows were broken and shop units were damaged, so I’m absolutely appalled.
“The police said they’ve never had any problem with the family-run funfair in the past, but that’s not the issue.
“The owners of the funfair don’t want and wouldn’t want any trouble, of course they don’t.
“The problem comes from the youths who have been going to it.
“For me, the answer is not to allow these funfairs where there is a potential for nuisance.”
Mr Vettraino added that he has previously been vociferous about the potential for similar trouble along the road at Warout.
“The last time there was one at Warout, it coincided with Guy Fawkes Night and the police had a tough time of it, so I think it’s something that needs to be looked at,” he continued.
A spokesperson for Stirling’s Family Funfairs stressed that the funfair had closed at around 8.30pm, around five hours before the alleged incidents took place.
“Where we are sorry for damage that has been done to the property, I understand it happened about 1.30am on Saturday morning,” he said.
“A resident reported a disturbance. There is CCTV coverage and the police have told me it is an ongoing investigation.
“I and the funfair staff went outside the fair and were watching as the visitors left the area. By 9pm there was no-one around and we all went in. There were other police patrols later in the evening and all was quiet.
“We did not hear any disturbances.”
The funfair spokesman added that staff had since been informed that there has been “ongoing problems” in relation to people setting fires in nearby woodland prior to their arrival.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said it was investigating the anti-social behaviour complaints.
