A village row has erupted after a businessman destroyed a bed of wildflowers that were installed by his neighbours outside his home.
Mike Hodgson, a wind turbine company director, was filmed pulling out the flowers and herbs just 24 hours after they were placed in a community planter by volunteers.
The 54-year-old and his partner Shirin Pootschi, 55, allegedly used “power tools and crowbars” to destroy the bed of flowers next to his home in Gwaenysgor in North Wales.
The pair, who have been accused of “terrorising” locals with their behaviour, were filmed on Tuesday climbing on top of the soil and ripping out the newly planted foliage. Hodgson was also seen trying to cut up the wooden planter with an angle grinder.
A row has erupted between neighbours after a businessman ripped up a flowerbed (stock)Google Street View/Wikimedia CommonsResidents then staged a “sit-in” to protect the flowerbed amid the row in the countryside village.
Neighbour Andy Clarke, 58, said the flowers had been planted by volunteers backed by the community council and were not on the couple's land, but next to it.
He added: “Members of the public had to sit on the bed to stop them destroying it. The police were called but no-one was cautioned or arrested.
“We planted this to brighten things up and as part of readying the village for Britain in Bloom and in association with the village conservation group and community council biodiversity project.
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“We hoped it would last a long time but it didn’t even last a day.”
Clarke filmed the incident and posted it on Facebook, and was heard telling Hodgson that “everybody will see what kind of creature you are”.
Residents said that Tuesday’s incident marked a low-point in the 10-year-running dispute between Hodgson, Poostchi and a number of residents in Gwaenys - with allegations of verbal abuse, and vandalisation of vehicles over the years.
The planter was one of six to be set up in various areas across the village on unkept and unclaimed ground. It was built with the help of the local conservation group as part of the Britain in Bloom competition.
Hodgson defended his actions, stating he tore up the flowerbed as the planter was not environmentally friendly.
Residents said that Tuesday’s incident marked a low-point in the 10-year-running dispute between Hodgson, Poostchi and a number of residents in Gwaenys
Google Street View
He told MailOnline: “The planter encroaches on the property where we conduct our business and was erected without planning permission in a conservation area.
“Our company is deeply committed to recycling and green energy, and we have always strived to maintain our premises in a manner consistent with these values.
“Unfortunately, the planter in question includes materials that are not environmentally friendly, such as plastic and concrete, which conflicts with our sustainability efforts.
“We requested the individuals responsible for the planter to move it and provided them with a 24-hour window to do so. When this was not accomplished, we proceeded to remove the planter ourselves.”
Inspector Wesley Williams of North Wales Police said: “I am aware of ongoing concerns raised by residents in the Gwaenysgor area and of images in connection with an incident released in the media.
“Prior to the incident, I have had discussions with relevant partners and Senedd members to understand the concerns and issues within the village and to be able to provide longer-term community support.”
