Warden in a dust-up

2:10pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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PARKING warden Andy Mackrill has been accused of going over the top after calling police when some brick dust blew on to his own car.

The Kennet enforcement officers in Marlborough have an office in the Wagon Yard in London Road with reserved parking spaces.

They don't have to find somewhere to park in the town like most commuters or run the risk of getting a ticket if they go over their time.

Mr Mackrill parks his black Ford Probe on a space where the Wagon Yard joins Harley Court.

Exhibition and Design Ltd who plan and build stands for major exhibitions all over Europe has its offices next to the wardens'.

David and Angela Daw own the business and were having an aerial installed on their front wall when some of the brick dust blew on to Mr Mackrill's car.

The aerial erector was still up his ladder when the warden returned to his car and, said Mr Daw, proceeded to throw a wobbly.

Helen Goddard who works for the exhibition firm said: "It was quite a windy day and the chap drilled four holes and some of the dust blew on to the warden's car.

"When the warden got back to his car he told the aerial chap to stop work but he refused.

"Then the warden said it was a listed building and the aerial should not have been put up there.

"Then, to our surprise, he got out his digital camera and started taking pictures of the guy up the ladder."

The exhibition firm's staff were even more amazed when within five minutes two policemen turned up and said they had been called by the warden.

"I think the police were bemused by the situation," said Mrs Goddard.

"One of them said to the aerial technician that he would advise him to use a dust sheet in future."

Meanwhile said Mrs Goddard "the warden was ranting and raving to the guy drilling the holes telling him he would have to pay for the damage to the car.

"I went out and gave him a tenner to go and get his car cleaned."

Mr Daw said: "It is amazing that somebody drilling a hole 20 feet away from a car could be accused of damaging it and then for the warden to call the police and have two officers arrive in five minutes."

Mrs Daw said: "One of our staff paid out of petty cash to solve what was, after all, a petty problem."

Police confirmed they had been called and that suitable advice had been given to the aerial erector.

A Kennet spokesman said: "We cannot comment about individual cases involving our staff."