New Milton mayor vows community will ‘overcome’ vandalism after newly-revamped Ashley shopping parade’s flower planters are upturned
“We will overcome.” This was the defiant stance after vandals tipped up flower planters on Ashley’s recently revamped shopping parade.
The three 1.5m-long recycled plastic promenade planters along Ashley Parade on Ashley Road were targeted in the early hours of Friday 13th September.
Soil was spilled on the newly-resurfaced pavement and some plants were lost, but the troughs themselves were undamaged.
New Milton Town Council’s estates and facilities manager Mark Jeffries said the cost to put everything right again was limited to £150.
The criminal damage, between 2.20am and 3am, came just weeks after the council officially opened the improved parade on 20th July.
As reported in the A&T, the £30,000 scheme was carried out following frustrations and safety fears over the dilapidated pavement outside businesses.
Shocked by Hampshire County Council’s inability to provide funding, the town council took the matter into its own hands.
A £15,000 grant was secured from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) via New Forest District Council. This was matched by community infrastructure levy (CIL) funds.
The vandalism was reported to the police, who are urging witnesses and those with any useful video footage to come forward.
Responding to what had happened, New Milton mayor Cllr Alvin Reid told the A&T: “We will overcome. We’ll not let vandals of any age spoil it for the rest of the population.
“I believe as soon as we knew about it we had our teams out there righting, refilling and replanting.
“This council is rightly proud of its displays. They are some of the best in the New Forest area.”
Locals went online to vent their anger and frustration, with one posting: “We can't have anything nice because it just gets vandalised. No respect!”
Anyone with information should contact officers online at hampshire.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting reference 44240404634.
Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously at crimestoppers-uk.org or on 0800 555 111.
