A FURIOUS Pershore councillor has labelled the theft of flower baskets once again from the town’s bridge as ‘heartbreaking’.
Coun Val Wood, who sits on the Town Council and Wychavon District Council, has pleaded with thieves to return the four hanging baskets which are believed to have been stolen last Friday night (July 15) or Saturday morning (July 16) from posts on Pershore Bridge.
The respected councillor spoke out after the incident, the second time the hanging baskets have been stolen in as many years.
In 2014 thieves also took two of the flower arrangements from the same place in a similar incident.
There were a total of 12 flower displays, with four at each of the three entrances to the town, which are funded through through a variety of community-based groups.
Coun Wood discovered the raid when she went to tend to the baskets on Saturday morning.
“How heartbreaking to find that once again the four baskets by Pershore Bridge have been taken by person or persons well prepared as last year,” she said.
“What a beautiful town we have in Pershore especially this time of year with all the floral decorations, some of which are funded by the Town Council and others privately.
The Pershore councillor also said she believed it would have required some effort to remove the baskets from the poles.
“Cutters, ladders and a large vehicle would have been required to remove the baskets from the poles late Friday or early Saturday morning,” she added.
“The baskets on the poles on three of the entrances into Pershore are funded by donations obtained by what is left of the Pershore in Bloom committee, community organisations and grants and not by the taxpayer.
“They are provided by Mill Lane Nurseries in Drakes Broughton with a large discount as part of their commitment to Pershore looking beautiful,” she added.
The baskets are 30 inches in diameter and worth around up to £60 each, containing petunias, geraniums, begonias and lobelias.
Coun Wood has pleaded with the raiders to return the hanging baskets in time for a host of town events including the Plum Festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
“To those who did this, please return the baskets. Give me a ring and I will collect them or you can leave them by the poles,” she said.
