Severn Valley Country Park bosses defend drainage works
Friday 11th March 2011, 11:29AM GMT.
Bosses at a Shropshire beauty spot targeted by vandals today defended major drainage works at the site – after one resident accused them of “ruining” the area.
Diggers at Severn Valley Country Park at Alveley, near Bridgnorth, were hotwired and taken on a joyride on Wednesday night before being trashed and abandoned, with one left upside down with the engine running.
Damage to the site included destroyed benches and lines of trees being ripped up, while large areas of grass were also churned up by digger treads.
Residents and staff at the park have condemned those responsible and a police investigation has been launched.
But Paul Harris, who has lived in Alveley for the past 30 years, said he was angry the diggers were on site in the first place and said he believed major drainage work at the site was unnecessary.
The claim has been refuted by staff at the park, who insist land would start slipping down towards the hill towards the River Severn unless the work was carried out.
Mr Harris said: “It was already pretty bad there and I was fuming about the diggers being there in the first place. They have been there for two or three weeks for drainage works and it has totally ruined the area and turned it into a slag heap.
“It has ruined the area for the wildlife and now this incident has happened with the diggers it will probably cost them a lot more.”
Angela Stanger, visitor centre warden at Severn Valley Country Park, said: “The original drainage works have failed — the stone work used has solidified and it is stopping the water flow so water is starting to back up.
“It will cause the land to slide and it is absolutely necessary that we carry out this work.”
Anyone with information about the digger incident should call Bridgnorth police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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Are we absolutely sure the diggers were “hotwired” and the owners hadn’t just left the keys in the ignition? Or that the diggers didn’t require keyed ignition at all?
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