FED-up residents are putting pressure on East Renfrewshire Council to install permanent CCTV cameras in a Barrhead park in a bid to end vandalism.

At the end of last year, witnesses reported seeing youths setting fire to a picnic bench in the Cowan Park play area but, by the time fire crews and the police arrived, the guilty parties had scarpered.

The incident took place not long after the park received an investment totalling £250,000 to improve the facilities available for the community.

A Freedom of Information request, filed by Barrhead Community Council, revealed that Rouken Glen children’s park has its own CCTV camera.

READ MORE: No plans for CCTV in park, admits council

This has led to concerns the Giffnock park is being favoured. 

Police have said they would get behind installing cameras in the hope perpetrators could more easily be caught.

A police spokesman said: “We would be supportive of any additional safety measures in the local area.”

Rena McGuire, secretary of Barrhead Community Council, said at the most recent meeting that she had receieved correspondence suggesting there could be a temporary camera put up in Cowan Park.

READ MORE: Firebugs slammed after latest attack on Cowan Park

But Ms McGuire insisted this would not be enough. She told the council: “We want a fixed one.”

Rosaleen Reilly, chair of Barrhead Community Council, previously told the Barrhead News CCTV is needed for safety in the popular park.

She said: “There definitely needs to be some kind of patrol in Cowan Park because people are afraid to go there. CCTV is absolutely crucial for Cowan Park.”

Paul Masterton MP added he has been “disgusted” by the vandalism in the park.

He said: “I agree with the Community Council’s efforts to have CCTV installed. 

“I hope East Renfrewshire Council will consider this sensible request.”

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said the council was undertaking a “significant modernisation programme” for CCTV upgrades, but declined to say specifically whether a camera would be installed in Cowan Park. 

They said: “We are undertaking a significant modernisation programme for CCTV to upgrade and improve our current provision across the authority.”