2:00pm Friday 19th March 2010
By Martin Lea
A GANG of trimmer-happy workmen have been accused of destroying lovingly tended floral displays at Weymouth Railway station.
Pensioner Brian Coomber was distraught to find the flowers he looked after next to the station taxi rank had been ripped up.
Roses, lavender and clematis have been taken out of the tree display boxes Mr Coomber made himself, leaving bare trunks inside.
Mr Coomber, of Chelmsford Street, gives up his time and dips into his own pocket to buy flowers which he displays around the station as a welcome to the town for visitors.
He was given an award by rail campaigners to recognise his efforts over the past five years and has been praised by station staff for keeping the area tidy.
Mr Coomber, 70, who is helped by wife Janna, explained that he had an understanding with rail staff to look after the flowers and had never asked for anything in return.
But he is so upset by the damage he is asking to be paid for the flowers he has planted.
He said: “It’s vandalism. I’m absolutely disgusted.
“I can’t believe someone could just rip them out like that.”
Mr Coomber’s planting boxes can be seen all over the station, including along the wall in Ranelagh Road – but only the displays next to the taxi rank have been touched.
The pensioner quizzed station staff but they were unaware who carried out the work.
He added: “My wife said we should chuck it all in if that’s the way we’re treated but I’m determined to carry on.”
A spokeswoman for South West Trains said: “We appreciate Mr Coomber’s efforts in assisting with the flowerbeds at Weymouth station and we are very grateful his work.
“During a routine visit to the station by our maintenance team recently, unfortunately some flowers were cut back in error, for which we would like to apologise.
“We are happy to discuss with Mr Coomber ways in which we can rectify the situation.”
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