A CAMPAIGNING councillor is calling for more lighting in an area of Linwood being targeted by vandals.

The plea from Alison Dowling comes after rubbish was discovered on fire at a bin storage area in Kintyre Avenue at around 8pm on Monday, December 13.

A crew from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene and extinguished the flames before anyone was injured.

The incident follows the torching of an ‘inclusive swing’ used by kids with disabilities during a mindless arson attack at the local play area earlier this month.

Councillor Dowling, who represents Houston, Crosslee and Linwood, said the latest “unacceptable” incident had taken place near homes and parked cars.

She told The Gazette: “I visited the area to see the damage for myself and speak to residents living close by.

“I spoke to a resident who had to leave his home to move his parked car while the bin was on fire, to move the car to safety.

“Kintyre Avenue residents are thoroughly fed up with anti-social behaviour from a small number of young people who have targeted homes in the area by throwing stones at windows, kicking front doors and stealing wheelie bins.

“The fireraising is an escalation of this kind of unacceptable behaviour.”

Councillor Dowling is now urging Renfrewshire Council to install lighting at the play park in Kintyre Avenue, which she believes would help deter future incidents of vandalism in the area.

A spokesperson for the local community policing team said officers hadn’t received reports of a second fireraising incident in Kintyre Avenue but they would be looking into the matter.

A council spokesperson added: “We are working closely with our colleagues in the Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership and police officers and our wardens will increase patrols in this area wherever possible.

“We want all our parks to be safe places for young people and families and will consider whether additional lighting is required in this location.”