Voluntary members of Tuam Tidy Towns are horrified over the fact that a number of flower boxes they erected in an area in need of beautifying were destroyed by mindless vandals.
And the flower boxes, located in the Chapel Lane area of the town centre, were only erected a week earlier by the group who have made huge strides in cleaning up Tuam and the outskirts.
The flower boxes were attached to timber fencing but were unceremoniously pulled from their fixings and were apparently kicked along the road.
Tidy Towns Chairman Michael Waldron said that he normally keeps quiet when it comes to vandalism as it invariably puts similar thoughts in other people’s heads but on this occasion he was really put out by what happened.
As the incident occurred sometime before midnight last Saturday as those responsible were believed to have been walking between pubs, he believes that someone may have witnessed what happened. If this is the case, then he has asked that the identities of those responsible be given to the Gardaí in Tuam.
Michael said that the boxes were erected in a part of the town where there is an empty site which they are anxious for the owners to do something with but in the meantime the felt that the flower boxes would help enhance the area.
A week prior to this incident happening, a total of twelve flower boxes were erected on the fencing surrounding the site but some of them came a cropper by the vandals.
Anyone who witnessed the incident on Saturday night last is asked to come forward but Michael Waldron said that, despite what happened, the flower boxes will be replaced over the coming days.
The Tuam Tidy Towns Committee have been hailed locally as having been responsible for some essential clean-up initiatives and particularly in the Palace Grounds where public drinking is a major issue.
“We have twelve volunteers who turn up week in, week out to pick up litter and cans. Only for them the Palace Grounds would be an absolute mess. The amount of drinking that takes place there is absolutely shocking,” Michael added.
He said that some of those responsible were too young to be prosecuted. He would welcome bye-laws, similar to those which apply in other towns, that would result in their parents being fined.
Another prominent member of Tuam Tidy Towns, Sr Agnes Curley said that she was ‘absolutely devastated’ by what happened the flower boxes and added that a lot of work and cost went into preparing these.
“This is unbelievable and it is shocking to realise that those responsible are someone’s sons or daughters. It has nearly come to a stage that we will have to keep a round-the-clock watch on the work and improvements that we actually carry out.
“There is great support for the Tidy Towns in Tuam and particularly from a number of the schools who have helped out on occasions. But when something like this happens, it is so demoralising. However, our work must go on,” Sr Agnes added.
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