Police investigating ‘criminal damage’ after controversial fence blocking alleyway removed in Thatcham
A controversial fence has been torn down in Thatcham.
“Mr Gregory, tear down this wall,” cried residents of Beverley Close (or words to that effect) after losing access to the Memorial Playing Fields more than a year ago. Well, someone now has.
But it wasn’t the Thatcham Memorial Foundation, which installed the fence over safety concerns for those using the footpath to access its land.
Foundation chairman Nathan Gregory told newburytoday the fence was removed over the weekend and has reported the incident to the police.
He also claimed other areas of the playing fields have been damaged over the past few weeks, including the tennis court benches and trees planted for VE Day.
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “We received a report of criminal damage at Thatcham Memorial Hall, which occurred over the weekend. A fence was damaged.”
It also appealed to anyone with information or footage from the area to call 101, quoting reference number 43250273390.
The incident comes just over a month after Thatcham Town Council pledged to investigate securing control and repairing the alleyway to a standard the Foundation’s insurers were satisfied with.
Newburytoday reported on May 9 how town councillors were considering buying the path from its current owner using Community Infrastructure Levy funds from the Lower Way housing development – of which roughly £20,000 is available.
Mr Gregory confirmed the foundation’s board of trustees is meeting tonight (Wednesday) to decide what to do next and said they would be releasing a statement on the alleyway shortly.
Newburytoday has also contacted West Berkshire Council and contractor Hope & Clay to confirm when flood prevention works on the playing fields will be completed.
READ MORE: Thatcham Memorial Playing Fields get modified access after row over paths and gates
The works form part of the ninth and final scheme to be delivered under the 2010 Thatcham Surface Water Management Plan following the devastating floods in the town back in 2007, which affected approximately 1,200 properties.
The district council expects the scheme to protect a minimum of 73 properties from flooding once completed.
