‘Vendetta’ fears as farm shop’s signs are destroyed (From Cotswold Journal)

‘Vendetta’ fears as farm shop’s signs are destroyed

10:48am Thursday 9th July 2009

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A NORTH Cotswold farm shop’s staff are wondering if somebody is waging a vendetta against their business after someone destroyed all their signs along the A429 Fosseway.

The culprit only attacked Simple Suppers’ four roadside signs, between Moreton and the Shipston turning, leaving other nearby signs untouched.

Simple Suppers staff put up wooden signs on stakes, inserted into grass verges along the Fosseway, to direct motorists to their premises at Ditchford Mill Farm, near Moreton.

Someone smashed and dismantled the signs at sometime on the afternoon of Saturday, July 4.

Simple Suppers, co-owned by David and Gill Graham, has never received any complaints about the signs since first putting them up five or six years ago.

Mr Graham said they were on good terms with their business rivals and had no idea who was responsible.

He said: “We can’t think of anybody we’ve upset that much.

“Someone actually unscrewed the signs, so somebody went to a lot of trouble.

“It was a cowardly act.

“I just don’t understand why somebody would want to do it.”

Mags Rogers, Simple Suppers’ accounts clerk, said Gloucestershire County Council – as the highway authority – had never officially permitted the signs but had never objected to them either.

She said that, until the signs were replaced, the shop would be deprived of the passing trade it depends upon because motorists would not be directed to its premises.

“Someone has gone to great lengths,” she said.

“Some of the signs have been smashed and others have been taken up and thrown away.

“They were low signs and did not block views.

“We cannot think of a reason why somebody would want to cause a problem.”

The police have been informed.Anyone with any information about the damage is asked to call Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 0901234 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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