Community fights back against Falkirk canal vandalism

Back in October residents revealed their disgust at the people who ripped off and stole information panels from the trail, which features interpretation panels, signage and seating and stretches from world famous Kelpies and Helix Park along the Forth and Clyde Canal to Lock One and Dalgrain Road in Grangemouth’s Old Town where the canal meets the River Carron.

Now more of the trail has been covered in vile graffiti – including a massive slogan written on the canal path itself.

Ken Hutton, former chairman of the Friends of the Charlotte Dundas who help bring the trail to the area, found it hard to hide his anger and disappointment over the recent vandalism and thefts.

However, he stated both Scottish Canals and Falkirk Council had come up with the cash to replace the missing panels – which will be installed in the coming weeks –while Bear Scotland and members of the community had worked hard to remove the offensive graffiti.

“The graffiti happened after a Rangers v Celtic football match and it was really a discredit to the Falkirk area. The stuff they put on the underside of the M9 was massive, but ten out of ten for Bear Scotland who had it cleaned off in only a couple of days.

“The weather is actually causing the writing on the path to fade away.”

Mr Hutton believes the popularity of – and easy access to – the Kelpies is leading to the vandals picking it as an area to carry out their crimes.

Earlier in the year he stated people who enjoyed walking the trail had also told him of their anger at the criminals who ripped the two heritage information panels and a large way sign from their locations and subsequently stole or disposed of them.

Ken said: “It was a monumental feat to get the trail up and running in the first place – to see this happen is just such a body blow. Everyone is absolutely appalled by what has happened."