Hated parking meters go out with a bang

Little love is lost anywhere in the world between drivers and parking meters. But nowhere has this relationship become more explosively dysfunctional than in Lewes, the market town nestling picturesquely in the Sussex Downs.

Yesterday a reward of £1250 ($2610) was put up for information which could lead to the arrest of whoever is responsible for the latest in a series of blasts attacking what locals call the "blue meanies".

Public safety worries are mounting following the stepping-up of a long-running campaign against parking charges.

Since September, 14 parking meters have been destroyed in attacks thought to involve the placing of an industrial firework in the change tray of the privately run machines which collect the cash for the town's ruthlessly monitored stopping spaces.

More than 200 meters have been destroyed since the machines were introduced in 2004, and the bombing campaign has cost the local council more than £300,000.

None of the money in the machines has been stolen, and the authorities are convinced the attacks are "politically motivated".

But there have been no claims of responsibility and a previous reward offer elicited no information.

It is believed the latest explosions were caused by rook-scarers - an explosive device used by farmers to protect crops from birds, which can be bought from agricultural suppliers.

The East Sussex Council is adamant it will not be blasted into removing the machines, and says the cost of repairing them has to be paid by the ratepayers.

Independent