A community outreach programme is hoping to tackle antisocial behaviour in North West Dumfries.
After a spate of fires and vandalism across Lochside and Lincluden several groups have joined forces to try and put an end to it.
Now Lochside Is Families Together (LIFT), police, fire service, council, Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership, North West Community Campus, the YMCA, Oasis Youth Group and the Big Burns Supper plan to engage with those responsible and get them involved in projects to combat the bad behaviour.
Angela Gilmour from LIFT, said: “It’s upsetting quite a few folk within our community having to deal with this.
“We don’t want to point fingers at the kids we want to help them. I know what it’s like for them.”
She added: “The Glentrool fires were the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“The marsh fires are upsetting because frogs are spawning now and ducks and birds are preparing to mate and build nests and it’s destroying their habitat. It could’ve been catastrophic for the area because folk love the wildlife round here.”
LIFT is aiming to take teens to Jericho Loch for their Hook to Cook project which aims to teach them about outdoor safety.
Angela said: “We’re going to try and get as many kids engaged with it as possible to give them a safe space to enjoy the outdoors in a responsible way.”
A YMCA spokesperson said: “One of the main things every young person needs is opportunity and having so many community and youth organisations coming together to provide that opportunity can only make things better.
A council spokesperson said: “If anyone has any concerns or questions around antisocial behaviour, do not hesitate to contact us oncommunitysafetyteam@dumgal.gov.uk or 030 33 33 3000, or contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
