TURF on Barnard Castle’s lower Demesnes has been torn up twice in the space on a week, causing anger among those who enjoy the tranquillity of the beauty spot.
Now the town council is calling on anyone who saw it happen, or might have photographs, to help identify the people responsible so they can be spoken to. The first incident happened on Saturday, February 22, when a red car became stuck in boggy ground near to the bank of the River Tees. A resident whose home overlooks the Demesnes but did not want to be named said: “They brought a van down [to pull the red car out] and that got stuck. Then they got the recovery and made a right mess.”
A similar incident happened on Wednesday, February 2, when two men in a black BMW car became stuck while travelling over the drenched grass.
A woman walking her dogs saw it happen from her vantage point along the upper Demesnes. She said: “I was at the top of the hill and I shouted down, ‘have you got any brains – sodden field… car?”
“I thought I would get verbal abuse but they didn’t.”
A silver 4×4 arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and helped pull the car free of the muddy ground.
Town mayor Cllr John Blissett arrived minutes after both vehicles had left the Demesnes. He said: “This shouldn’t be happening. When we have the play area in and it fenced off [the problem will be solved].” He asked anyone with information or the registration numbers of the cars involved to get in touch with the town council on 01833 690970.
