An Aberdeen underpass revamped to help reduce crime has been vandalised – just days after it was officially reopened.
Hayton Road underpass has been graffitied, with reports of litter strewn across the passageway as well.
Known locally as Muggers Brig, the underpass connects Tillydrone to Western Road in Woodside, which leads onto Great Northern Road.
The route has been a cause for concern in the local area for many years and in 2019, a document by Sustrans revealed residents thought the underpass was “unwelcoming, poorly lit, not pedestrian friendly and unsafe.”
The improved underpass has been spruced up with colourful anti-slip paint to brighten the area, along with reflective panels and lighting to increase visibility and become more pedestrian-friendly.
It was redeveloped as part of a project to make the two areas a more attractive place to live and work and forms part of a wider Street Design Project led by Sustrans and Aberdeen City Council, known as the Tilly-Wood Street Design Project.
Local councillor Kairin van Sweeden, who attended the reopening on Thursday, said she was dismayed it had already been vandalised.
She said: “As someone who grew up in Tillydrone, the Hayton road underpass was always an unpleasant through route to Woodside, especially for women.
The Hayton Road underpass – which connects Woodside and Great Northern Road – has been unveiled following a colourful redevelopment. The revamp of the underpass was carried out to improve accessibility and safety following a community consultation. https://t.co/c3SbcF3qCn pic.twitter.com/U8ZCnQwWAy
— Aberdeen City Council (@AberdeenCC) June 13, 2022
“But community volunteers and council workers completely changed that and they created a safe and pleasant passage for all residents.
“So it saddens me greatly that so much disrespect can be shown to the time, planning and hard work that went in this project, especially for the time that was given for free by folk who do it for the love of their community.
“I urge anyone with information on this to inform Police Scotland as soon as possible.”
‘The graffiti is disappointing’
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman added: “The graffiti is disappointing given the input from the local community toward the improvements, the council and partners.
“It is recognised widely that this area has been negatively impacted by litter and graffiti in the past and that local community solutions will need to be considered through local community organisations as well as an increased emphasis on litter picking and graffiti removal through Aberdeen City Council services and volunteers.”
A police spokesman said no reports of vandalism had been made.
Conversation