Furious Row Breaks Out Over Decapitated Flowers
Jeremy Vine implies 'anti-cycling group' responsible for vandalism
The flower head were neatly lined up on a doormat. Picture: @thejeremyvine
A campaign group opposed to Streetspace measures in Chiswick has reacted angrily to a suggestion by broadcaster Jeremy Vine that it was associated with an alleged act of vandalism.
The Eggheads presenter posted an image on social media show a neat row of decapitated flowers on a doormat.
He said, “A woman in my area has been relentless in arguing the case for safe cycling. She has had much abuse from the local anti-cycling group which is raising £50k to get our new cycle lane torn out. Yesterday she woke to find all the flowers in her front garden had been decapitated.”
The OneChiswick group have been fundraising to pay for a judicial review of Hounslow Council’s traffic measures including the controversial temporary Cycleway 9.
In a statement issued on social media the OneChiswick group said, “It has been brought to our attention that an accusation has been made and repeated on social media without any evidence. It implies that people associated with an ‘anti cycling’ group in Chiswick have vandalised some flowers belonging to a keen cycling campaigner. It insinuates that OneChiswick are responsible.
“OneChiswick deplores vandalism and would never act like this, or support others doing so. We entirely reject these false insinuations and the likely motivations behind them.”
OneChiswick denies being anti-cycling saying it is campaigning against ‘an unsafe and damaging cycle lane’ as well as other traffic measures in the area which it says are causing more pollution and congestion.
A crowdfunding page was launched by Wandsworth Labour Councillor Jo Rigby who says she has been in touch with the woman who had her front garden vandalised and that the money raised will be used to plant flowers in public spaces in Chiswick. The initial target was £100 but so far over £1,000 has been raised.
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May 2, 2021
