Removals boss ‘gutted’ as vandals target vans
Tenancy clause blamed for attack
A REMOVALS company boss says that he’s ‘gutted’ after his work vehicles have been targeted by vandals for the second time - and blames a ‘stupid’ tenancy covenant for the damage.
Dale Walton, a resident of the Admirals Wood estate in Sarisbury Green, has had two of his work vans vandalised while they were parked outside Coldeast Mansion.
He says that due to a clause in his tenancy on his home on Rothschild Drive, vans are not permitted to be parked on his driveway or in front of his house - meaning that he has had to park the van elsewhere.
The first vandalism took place in December, when Dale, 38, found that the window of his van had been smashed.
Just over a month later, he discovered that another of his work vehicles had also been damaged - in exactly the same spot.
Dale, a Guinness Homes resident, says that this is affecting his livelihood as well as costing him money.
After discovering that the second work vehicle had been vandalised, Dale said: ‘I’ve had my front window smashed in, the driver’s mirror smashed in - it’s costing me £200.
‘It could have been avoided if it wasn’t for the stupid rule. Now I’ve paid the price.’
Dale is director of Meon Valley Removal, a continuation of Dale Walton Transport - a business he set up in 2015.
He said: ‘At the time, I was struggling to feed my kids.
‘I built my business up from a £50 note.’
He added that he feels this tenancy rule, which specifically applies to vans, is targeting working class people.
‘Gutted’ Dale said: ‘I think it’s a rule that shouldn’t exist - it’s a stupid rule that needs to be investigated.
‘I have a respectable panel van that doesn’t do anyone any harm. I deserve to be treated better than that.’
Dale, who pays full rent, says that he is ‘getting fed up by it’ and says he has ‘had a gutful of the estate’, where he lives with his wife and three of his children.
He added: ‘It could have been avoided. It’s upsetting, it cost me dearly.’
Hampshire Constabulary confirmed that they received
a report of the vandalism, but added: ‘Whenever an incident is reported to us, it is assessed for all available lines of enquiry to the investigation team.
‘Unfortunately, on this occasion, there were no identified available lines of enquiry and so this has been filed.’
Guinness Homes was approached for comment.