A popular north-east social club which has been repeatedly hit by vandals has been targeted again – just weeks after the damage was last repaired.
The Men’s Shed in Inverurie has been the struck several times over the last few months causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
And this week vandals broke into the group’s polytunnel before wrecking all the produce inside.
This was being grown to raise funds for the community.
Opened by Jim McColl in 2015, the polytunnel is separate to the main building housing the Men’s Shed which was recently renovated after they received £20,000 from the National Lottery and the Postcode Lottery.
The group is part of a nation-wide movement and offers social support for more than 100 men in Inverurie.
One of the trustees of Inverurie and district group, Alistair Smith, said that it was “totally disheartening” to find all their gardening efforts ruined.
He said: “We don’t just offer woodwork and tooling lessons – it’s more about mental and physical well-being – and avoiding social exclusion. The money for the polytunnel came from the Health Improvement Fund – so it’s public money that it being trashed here – it is sickening.”
The polytunnel occupies the space behind the former Harlaw Day Centre, on Harlaw Road, which is due to be demolished.
A small traveller encampment is currently pitched up there.
A spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council said: “We are aware of the encampment at the Harlaw Centre in Inverurie and our gypsy/traveller liaison officer has been on site. We are monitoring the situation and will act in line with our adopted policies and procedures which can be found on our website.”
The site was vandalised in March this year and gardening tools were also stolen at that time.
Inverurie councillor Colin Clark last night said: “I’m bitterly disappointed that this has happened again. It is a disgrace that a council site is unsecured and attracting crime. This cannot go on.”
“Demolition of Harlaw Centre is due soon – I had hoped that we could fence off the garden area for the Men’s Shed whilst we find them a more permanent site.”
