It seems a van of some description decided to drive up a footpath not designed or wide enough for vehicular access and in the process demolished a recently planted hedgerow that was just getting established (approx 1 year prior). The footpath allow access to a main footpath/cycleway from the end of our cul-de-sac, so reason for vehicular access apart from tree/bush and general maintenance.
The neighbours believe they saw a green, possibly larger than transit sized van driving up from the bottom of the cul-de-sac around 11am, but only later noticed the damage whilst walking their dog at which point they highlighted the occurrence of this heinous act to myslef.
Obviously the cost of the plants is negligable, it's more the work that was involved in planting and raising the hedge and the now substantial chasm that has been driven into the flower bed border - with the poor tiny hedglings crushed into the mud at the bottom...
As soon as this act of sheer brutality and vandalism was highlighted to myslef, I took to my own vehicle on the look out for said van and clearly suspicious looking occupants. No sign of any vehicle matching this description was discovered. Realising the error of their ways, they must have cleared the area sharpish!
I have taken many photographs of the offending area, measured the tyre track width (1900mm) where they had to avoid a lamp post and so left clearly defined tread marks of both side of the vehicle, as well as the tyre width (approx 200mm). There's some clear tyre tread marks in the mud, from which I could take a plaster of paris imprints if required.
I have contacted the council this morning to enquire whether they had any maintenance workers in the area who might be foolish enough to attempt stuffing a transit van up a narrow footpath. As yet no response.
Neighbours in the near vicinity do not have CCTV, so no luck there. I will try further along the road in case someone may have cameras sighted along the road.
Has anyone else experienced this type of affront to humanity and what methods did you employ to obtain resolution?!?!
What other avenues of investigation are available which I have not yet considered?
Thanking you in advance for your learned advice!
The neighbours believe they saw a green, possibly larger than transit sized van driving up from the bottom of the cul-de-sac around 11am, but only later noticed the damage whilst walking their dog at which point they highlighted the occurrence of this heinous act to myslef.
Obviously the cost of the plants is negligable, it's more the work that was involved in planting and raising the hedge and the now substantial chasm that has been driven into the flower bed border - with the poor tiny hedglings crushed into the mud at the bottom...
As soon as this act of sheer brutality and vandalism was highlighted to myslef, I took to my own vehicle on the look out for said van and clearly suspicious looking occupants. No sign of any vehicle matching this description was discovered. Realising the error of their ways, they must have cleared the area sharpish!
I have taken many photographs of the offending area, measured the tyre track width (1900mm) where they had to avoid a lamp post and so left clearly defined tread marks of both side of the vehicle, as well as the tyre width (approx 200mm). There's some clear tyre tread marks in the mud, from which I could take a plaster of paris imprints if required.
I have contacted the council this morning to enquire whether they had any maintenance workers in the area who might be foolish enough to attempt stuffing a transit van up a narrow footpath. As yet no response.
Neighbours in the near vicinity do not have CCTV, so no luck there. I will try further along the road in case someone may have cameras sighted along the road.
Has anyone else experienced this type of affront to humanity and what methods did you employ to obtain resolution?!?!
What other avenues of investigation are available which I have not yet considered?
Thanking you in advance for your learned advice!
, if there's a footpath that's not intended for vehicles, can you complain to the council and see if they could put a post in the footpath to stop vehicles driving down it.
