Flowers of romance

In the UK a couple who planted flowers in a roadside verge recently faced a charge of criminal damage from the local authorities. The elderly couple started planting the flowers 15 years ago in a bid to dissuade motorists from parking their vehicles illegally on the verge, explaining that this churned up the grass and left it looking unsightly.
September 29, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

In the UK a couple who planted flowers in a roadside verge recently faced a charge of criminal damage from the local authorities. The elderly couple started planting the flowers 15 years ago in a bid to dissuade motorists from parking their vehicles illegally on the verge, explaining that this churned up the grass and left it looking unsightly. A local council official visited the area after being called to inspect the remains of a fallen tree nearby. The officious official spotted the fuchsias and after making enquiries as to who had planted them in the verge, warned the retired couple that this was a dangerously illegal activity in breach of regulations. The couple then received a letter from the authorities requiring them to remove the flowers and replace the turf on the verge in question, threatening a fine and court action if they refused to comply. A representative for the council later explained that in the event of an accident occurring on the verge resulting in injuries, it would not be clear who to sue for damages due to the presence of the flowers. European road safety standards do not so far include vehicle impact tests on fuchsias.

Related Content

  • Workzone vests get wired for sound, thanks to Virginia Tech university
    December 11, 2015
    Researchers at Virginia Tech university in the United States have put small radio sensors on or inside vests to allows cars to “talk” to one another, roadside infrastructure, and personal electronics such as mobile phones. If a collision is about to occur between a vehicle and a worker, the vest can warn the worker in a matter of seconds about the impending crash. Likewise, the motorist will receive a dashboard notification.The instantaneous alert is possible by short-range communication, according to a sta
    Read More
  • EU rules in favour of two drivers in France in photo enforcement cases
    March 19, 2012
    The EU Human Rights Court has ruled in favour of two drivers who received traffic tickets from French authorities, but were not provided the means to contest them. Both men paid the fine required and one lost a point off his driver's permit. Both called for the reimbursement of the fine.
    Read More
  • Self driving cars for the UK
    April 20, 2022
    Self driving cars will be allowed in the UK
    Read More
  • bargain hunting, live onsite auction day in Donington, UK
    November 14, 2016
    It’s live onsite auction day in Donington, UK and it’s noisy. It’s also raining in early morning but that doesn’t put off the gathering crowd Buyers are milling around parked machinery. They kick tyres and slam doors. Some are behind the wheel, gingerly nudging vehicles frontwards and backwards or raising and lowering booms. Their partners stand a few metres away scrutinising the machine’s movements.
    Read More

Highlighted Content