Mayor slams vandals after attack on tree

Shefford mayor Councillor Paul Mackin was furious when he found the vandalised tree in the High Street early on Monday morning (June 17).

The tree – planted by the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Jack Sapsworth for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations last year – was targeted sometime from Sunday evening to the early hours of Monday morning.

The attack on the tree is the latest in a series of vandalistic acts to take place in the town centre.

Mr Mackin said: “To say that I was outraged would be a severe understatement.

“Incandescent would be nearer to the truth.

“It is so disappointing to know that we still have some of these antisocial people in our community.”

Mr Mackin said that such acts undermine the hard work that Shefford Town Council and volunteers in the area put in to improve the appearance of the town.

He added: “We spend a lot of money trying to keep the town looking nice for normal people and these people think it’s a great laugh to damage and smash anything that they feel like targeting.”

Mr Mackin has now reported the vandalism to PCSO Gill Richardson from Bedfordshire Police.

He said: “This isn’t the first time a tree has been vandalised in the High Street.

“I think at one time or another every tree in the road has been targeted.”

A spokesman for Beds Police confirmed that CCTV footage from Sunday and Monday would be examined.

Anyone with any information can contact PCSO Richardson on the non-emergency number 101.

Mr Sapsworth made a 
series of visits to towns around Chronicle Country to plant the trees in December last year.

His visits included stops in Shefford High Street, Sandy cemetery, the Henry Smith Playing Field in Potton and Arlesey where he was helped by pupils from Gothic Mede Lower School.

Sandy received an ornamental cherry tree while in 
Potton a walnut tree was planted.