Vandals run amok at town's water works

Jun 26 2009 by Lisa Boyle

VANDALS went on the rampage at a Cumnock water works.

More than £15,000 worth of damage was caused at the Scottish Water waste treatment works when it was broken into early in the evening of Sunday, June 14.

Damage was caused to an excavator, a fork lift truck, water service pipes, 50 metres of security fencing and hi-tech equipment in a mobile processing unit.

Ian McSeveney, from Scottish Water, said: “This was a disgraceful incident which resulted in serious damage to some very important and expensive equipment at the works.

“It serves thousands of people in the Cumnock and Auchinleck areas.

“The people responsible for this break-in and vandalism could have caused a serious environmental incident.”

Sergeant Paul Quinn at Cumnock police office is investigating the incident.

He said: “Although the treatment works is relatively secluded, the adjacent Broomfield Playing Fields and Lugar Water footpath are used regularly at this time of year by joggers and walkers.”

Anyone with information should contact Cumnock police office on 01290 306600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.