Meadows path sign altered to reflect lockdown life - but council concerned with sign vandalism and hazard tape removal in city parks

A path sign in The Meadows has been alterted to reflect current life in the city under lockdown, but the council says it is concerned with sign vandalism and removal of hazard tape around equipment in city parks.

A picture sent to the Evening News shows some letters have been removed in the Coronation Walk sign, which now reads ‘Corona Walk.’

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said the graffiti is being removed today but stressed that this kind of vandalism to signage, as well as cases of people removing hazard tape from equipment in parks being used to stop the spread of the virus, is taking up time and putting their parks teams at risk.

A runner, who did not want to be named, came across the altered sign in the The Meadows on Monday morning.

The Coronation Walk street sign has been altered to reflect current life in Edinburgh. Pic: Jenny Bruce

They said: “Spotted this sign on my daily approved exercise run in the Meadows.

“Sign changed from Coronation Walk to something more topical. Bit of black humour in these difficult times.”

An Edinburgh City Council said: “Our Parks & Greenspace officers will be removing this graffiti today. Sadly, this isn’t the only extra task that our team has had to undertake to enforce the new guidance in our parks, forcing officers away from other priorities.

“We’ve recently put up signs and taped off areas/equipment that create close proximity and result in touching to help stop the spread of the virus from people using them. This is for the safety of everyone and we ask you to please not remove hazard tape or signs to use the equipment as its replacement puts Council staff health at risk”

Police were unable to provide any details.