Who are Pittville scratch vandals 'Ryan, Alan and Scott'
GRAFFITI has been scratched into the side of one of Cheltenham's most historic buildings.
Police are hunting for three people who marked pillars at Pittville Pump Room with their names.
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Gloucestershire Constabulary
Offenders scratched the names Ryan, Alan and Scott into two pillars outside the grade one-listed building.
Detectives are now following up a number of inquiries, but are keen to hear from anyone with any information about the crime.
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Fiona Clark, from the Friends of Pittville Park, said she was disappointed to hear about the vandalism.
She said: "Speaking from a personal point of view, it is very sad as it is such a beautiful building.
"It is a shame that these people feel they need to make their mark in this way and spoil our historic buildings.
"Once someone sees this graffiti, it makes them feel that they can just do the same thing."
Currently owned by Cheltenham Borough Council, Pittville Pump Room is more than 180 years old.
It was commissioned by Joseph Pitt, who is credited with developing Pittville.
He asked the architect John Forbes to design a pump room which would act as the centrepiece to his vision of a town to rival Cheltenham.
The foundation stone was laid on May 4, 1825, and the work was completed in 1830.
Councillor John Rawson, deputy leader of the borough council, said the authority would repair it as soon as possible.
A surveyor from the authority has already been sent out to assess the damage.
"It is heartbreaking when people deface what is one of Cheltenham's most impressive buildings," added Mr Rawson.
"We are committed to retaining the Pump Room and we will be looking at this urgently to remove any signs of vandalism and restore the pillar to its previous condition. If this is left visible, then it may encourage others to do more."
Anyone with information should contact Gloucestershire police on 101, quoting incident number 143 of September 10.
Comments
by TimMessanger
Sunday, September 16 2012, 11:30AM
“Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act 1990 - no person shall execute or cause to be executed any works for the demolition of a listed building or for its alteration or extension in any manner which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest, unless the works are authorised.
The penalty for unauthorised alteration of a listed building is:
(magistrates) - 6 months prison and/or fine up to £20,000
(Crown Court) - up to 2 years prison and/or unlimited fine
I think they aught to make an example of this moron(s) and get them sent to crown court for an offence under the above act, this would put off people from doing this again!”
by hamster11
Sunday, September 16 2012, 11:12AM
“Perhaps something should have been done years ago then with all the graffiti "artists" who have been allowed to run amok without the fear of prosecutiuon, never mind getting caught. The "broken window policy" is a well known maxim used by a police chief in New York in the 80s/90s. It goes that if someone sees broken windows in a neighbourhood then normally law abiding people think nobody cares about things and break a window or commit a minor crime themselves; so they set about arresting all the window breakers. Same with the graffit vandals; no public arrests and prosecutions and so you get morons scratching their names everywhere. What do the police do in this town? Yes we get recent, highly publicised campaigns against home invasions but if they hadn't let them get to some of the worst stats per population in the country they wouldn't have needed to.”
by Matt1006
Saturday, September 15 2012, 4:13PM
“Let's hope they are stupid enough that the names scratched in the pillars are their own, and that somebody puts 2+2 together and identifies this little group of morons.
Then make sure they (or their parents if they are minors) are made to pay the full cost of repairing their vandalism. Plus a load of community service, in nice bright boiler suits.
Cretins.”
by PengiPete
Saturday, September 15 2012, 4:12PM
“"Who are Pittville scratch vandals 'Ryan, Alan and Scott'"
Just guessing here but I think they may be called Ryan, Alan and Scott.”
by FreeRadical1
Saturday, September 15 2012, 3:41PM
“The scummers can't leave anything nice alone. Why can't they go over to the skateboard/BMX park and graffiti to their hearts' content? I'm really angry to learn of this lovely building being targetted by the hard of thinking.”