FOR 150 years, amateur and professional artists have flocked to Montrose to paint the famous "Kirkie Steps" – the picturesque sandstone flight of stairs that flank the historic churchyard in the heart of the market town.
But yesterday the local council, which brought in workmen to daub the leading edges of the steps a fluorescent yellow in the name of health and safety, was branded "cultural vandals" by irate residents.
A local heritage society is planning to s
end a letter to Angus Council, demanding that the fluorescent strips be removed to protect what members claim is the town's most valued feature. Sandy Munro, a spokesman for the society, said: "The council have to be jumped on from a great height. I am all for protecting people and health and safety, but what they have done is over the top. It is cultural vandalism."
The steps, known affectionately by locals as the "Kirkie Steps", form part of Churchyard Walk, a path which links the town's historic Old and St Andrew's Church on the High Street with the Mid Links, a series of gardens laid out in the Victorian era.
Mr Munro said he had been left "flabbergasted" when he discovered what workmen had done. He said: "People have been painting those steps or photographing them for years. They essentially symbolise Montrose. The fact they have painted these yellow lines on them is absolutely hideous. If there is a need for something to be done for the sake of health safety, surely it could have been done in a far more sensitive manner?
"I would respectfully suggest that when you have a unique townscape feature the council don't have to apply exactly the same criteria as if it's the steps into a public lavatory. We want these strips removed."
Richard Cook, of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: "This is overkill. All too often we're seeing local landmarks being defaced like this in the name of health and safety. An appropriate sign warning people about the steps would probably have been a better idea."
But a spokeswoman for Angus Council said the steps had been painted "as part of health and safety measures designed to assist the visually-impaired". She said: "Angus Council, like other local authorities, is making improvements and adaptations to council buildings to provide equality of access for those with disabilities under disability discrimination legislation."
The full article contains 404 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
