BANNERS advertising Opera South's latest musical production were stolen from Somerfield car park on Monday. The operatic company will be performing The Elixir of Love at the Haslemere Hall from Tuesday of next week. The charity's development director, Moyra Finlay, said: "I got permission from Waverley as to where I could put the banners and I was pleased that they allowed me to put them up in the local car parks for the next two and a half weeks. "Last Friday in the biting cold, I struggled to put them up, but by Monday they were gone. I can imagine someone slashing them – but to take it all away and leave it all tidy? "Everything had been taken, including the plastic and string that I used to tie them with. I also noticed that the banners for The Royal School had also been taken down. "I rang Waverley and they said that they had not received any complaints. Most people will know me from when I was mayor in 1984. I am an environmentalist, I was founder of The British Conservation Volunteer Group, so I am concerned about the environment, that's why I checked with Waverley to find out where I was allowed to put them." The Herald has been told by Haslemere Town Council there is a group of "environmentalists" in the area taking down what they see as unlawfully placed banners. Mrs Finlay continued: "I also checked with Brewers that they were happy for me to put one of the banners near their premises and I put the other one down by the exit of Somerfield car park. "If anyone has these banners, could they please let me have them back, as they are quite expensive." Anyone with information about the banners should call Mrs Finlay direct on 01428 644581. Opera South's production of The Elixir of Love is at The Haslemere Hall, Bridge Road, from Monday, February 20 to Saturday, February 24. For tickets call the box office on 01428 642161.
