Kicking up a stink over strange graffiti

APPALLED activists in a tight knit Ross-shire community have cried foul on a mindless vandal for a bizarre attack on a local clean-up initiative.

Avoch and Killen Community Council last month teamed up with the Black Isle Men’s Shed group to help tackle a problem with dog poo.

The shed group made four specially crafted wooden boxes containing free poop bags to encourage locals and visitors to ensure they were never caught out while walking their pets.

The well-received initiative was seen as a possible template for other communities to follow to tackle a persistent bugbear across the county.

Activists were shocked to discover that one of the dispenser boxes, on Ormonde Terrace, has been crudely defaced with bizarre graffiti.

Community councillor Mary Smyth said: "There are enough clear notices on the boxes telling users to put the filled bags in nearby bins or take them home.

"There has been an excellent response to the availability of the dog poo bags, they are being well used.

"The community council has paid for the materials to make the boxes and the supply of bags from money we raised for our village maintenance fund, so it’s frustrating that a local person should do this to his own village. Even non-dog owners have praised our initiative."

She added: "This is a disappointing thing to happen in our village where so many volunteers do their best to maintain the area to ensure this is a clean and safe place for residents and visitors and I am appalled that this vandalism was apparently carried out by a local resident."

The community council and Men’s Shed group were put in touch via link man Roddie McPherson, who lives near the fishing village’s landmark harbour.

The eco-friendly wooden dispensers can be found at the Avoch end of the railway line path, on Shore Walk by the industrial units, at the harbour green and at the start of the Shaltie Burn path.

The move follows a recent initiative in the village to highlight the many paths which can be enjoyed by visitors to the village via a panel erected at a prominent spot near the Lazy Corner.

A police spokesman said: "Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting NE5003/18, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."