Council taxpayers will not foot the bill for Abronhill scaffolding theft

The scaffolding had been left lying in Oak Road so contractors working on behalf of NLC and the Scottish Government could install energy efficient heating in local homes.

However, criminals saw that the scaffolding was there for the taking and worked by stealth to remove the heavy duty poles over a three-month period.

Last week’s edition of the Cumbernauld News stated that police were seeking witnesses to the theft.

Since then, a number of people have stated on our Facebook page that they heard poles being removed overnight.

A number of our readers expressed concern that that the materials had not been locked away, not just for security’s sake but on health and safety grounds.

It’s also emerged that NLC only discovered that their site had been plundered last Monday- despite the fact that the thefts began back in February.

John Apperson, NLC’s Property Services Manager said: “Our contractor has been carrying out energy efficiency work since 2013 and no complaints have been received in relations to these works.

“Contractors are appointed following a full procurement exercise which includes Health & Safety but all security and insurance around material in support of the appointed works are a matter for the contractor.

“The matter is being investigated by Police Scotland and we urge anyone with information to come forward.

“The works are aimed at improving the quality of homes in the area and such criminal activity only impacts negatively upon those programmes and the people they are aimed at assisting.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We can’t comment on an ongoing police investigation.”

The Glasgow-based contractor Enviroscaff have not responded to our request for comment.