A CALL has been made for community action in a bid to curb vandalism in Musselburgh, after a plaque in memory of a respected local conservationist was damaged.

The monument at the Hayweights Clock on Mall Avenue was installed to commemorate the late Stephen Edwards, a staunch member of Musselburgh Conservation Society who campaigned to have the clock restored.

The conservation society hit out at what it described as “the growing vandalism plague sweeping the town”, after the plaque was damaged around August 22.

Alan Armour, society chairman, said: “Stephen Edwards worked hard throughout his life to protect and enhance Musselburgh’s built environment.

“He was completely committed to his task and was a much-respected chairman of the society from 1993 to 1999.”

The metal plaque was “ripped off” its wooden plinth, which was “smashed”, and the top of the plaque looked as if it had been “stamped on”.

Mr Armour said: “The vandals had nothing to gain by their action and, sadly, this is just another event to add to the growing list of mindless damage taking place in our community.

“The hard-pressed police cannot be expected to be in the whole of the town at one time but neighbourhood watch groups and individual public awareness could help, as could covert CCTV cameras.”

The society highlighted other incidents of vandalism this year, including graffiti on the promenade seating at Beach Lane, as well as on the historic Roman Bridge. It claimed that windows at a children’s nursery where smashed and a gate was broken. Trees were also damaged at Newhailes estate.

Mr Armour said: “Musselburgh Conservation Society’s plaque pales into insignificance compared to these acts of vandalism but, by the same token, is yet another to add to the growing list.

“We are calling on our fellow townsfolk to help beat the scourge of the vandals.”

Musselburgh-based company Eastern Exhibition & Display has replaced the plaque free of charge.

The society is urging people who witness vandalism or see anything suspicious to contact the police immediately.

Irene Tait, chair of Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council, which funded the plaque, praised Eastern Exhibition & Display for its kind gesture and also urged local people to be vigilant against vandalism.

Mr Edwards, who served on the conservation society’s committee for many years, died in 2017.

The Hayweights Clock was put into storage when the Brunton Hall was built in the late 1960s. It was originally presented to Musselburgh and Fisherrow in 1909 by Mr Adam Black Esq, Writer to the Signet, and mounted at the Old Hay Weigh House, at the junction of Bridge Street and North High Street.

When the adjacent Brunton Hall was built, the Old Hay Weigh House, built in the 1880s, was demolished, and the clock and tower removed to a builder’s yard at Millhill for storage.

Funds were made available by Tesco to have the casing, including a replacement clock, re-erected at its present site on Mall Avenue.