Vandals under fire for Clyde Walkway blaze

A DOG walker taking her usual route along the Clyde Walkway was horrified to find that vandals had burned part of one of its wooden bridges.
Burning bridges...vandals apparently set fire to tyres to burn away the floor of the bridge near Crossford. (Pic Sarah Peters)Burning bridges...vandals apparently set fire to tyres to burn away the floor of the bridge near Crossford. (Pic Sarah Peters)
Burning bridges...vandals apparently set fire to tyres to burn away the floor of the bridge near Crossford. (Pic Sarah Peters)

Photographs taken by the Gazette on Monday show the floor of the bridge burned completely away at one point and the rails charred.

The hole has been covered by fence posts, presumably to stop walkers falling through.

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“This has to be the most mindless vandalism ever!” said Jean Sloan, who discovered the fire damage as she took her dog out.

“It is ridiculous. I was absolutely incensed.”

She was made even angrier by the fact that the section of the walkway, not far from Orchard House Nursing Home near Crossford, is well used by people who are less able to tackle the steep sections.

“There are so many infirm people who walk their dogs there because it is flat,” she said.

“You meet the same people regularly there on that part of the walkway.”

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South Lanarkshire Council told the Gazette on Monday that officers were aware of the fire damage.

Stephen Kelly, head of the council’s facilities, waste and ground services said: “We would advise that the bridge should not be used until repairs are completed.

“We would expect repairs to be complete by the end of this month.”

Police are investigating the fire.

PC David Wesencraft, of Lanark Police, said the blaze had been caused by someone setting tyres alight.

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The fire was first reported to emergency services at 10.50am on Friday, February 20, and it was extinguished by fire service workers around 50 minutes later.

Police inquiries are continuing. Any witnesses can call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette.