‘Destroyed and stolen’
Members of a heritage charity were ‘sickened by the destruction and theft’ of a new information board about the historic Selsey Tramway at East Beach car park, Selsey.
Chichester District Council officials discovered the sawn-off remains of the sign’s metal supporting poles. The council alerted the Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group, which recently erected the sign at what was the terminus of the tramway as part of the celebrations of its founding 125 years ago. A spokesman for the charity said: “This spiteful and meaningless destruction and theft is not the work of passing children
and should not be called vandalism. The notice board was sawn off with an angle grinder or hacksaw, presumably by one or more adults, and the poles knocked over. CDC have taped over the jagged remains to protect the public. The board was funded by the wildlife and heritage charity and several generous sponsors who supported this educational project of historical importance to Selsey. No public money was used in the project or signage and its destruction and loss has cost several hundred pounds as well as being very disheartening for the volunteers who worked hard to celebrate and share this fascinating story of the town’s past.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Sussex Police. The MWHG re-launched a marked walking trail from Chichester to Selsey along the route of the seven and a half mile Selsey Tramway. The tramway opened in 1897 and was nicknamed locally the Bumpety Bump and the Sidlesham Snail.