A LIPHOOK taxi business at the centre of a neighbourhood dispute has been the target of vandalism for the second time this year.
Obscenities complaining about high prices were scratched into the bodywork of a Liphook Cars taxi parked at The Maltings, in the early hours of Thursday August 7.
Liphook Cars owner Peter Bedford is currently applying to East Hampshire District Council, for permission to continue running his business from his home in the residential street. Neighbours have complained about alleged disruption caused by the cars coming and going late at night.
Speaking to The Herald this week, Mr Bedford said that this was the second time his cars have been damaged deliberately.
"Another car was vandalised a couple of months ago - they ripped the aerial off, sprayed silver paint and keyed it, " he said. "This time they wrote swear words all over a Silver Mercedes with a key or a nail, it wasn't just paint."
Mr Bedford estimates the damage at between £400 or £500, but it will cost him even more in lost business.
"I've bought another car, but we can't use the old Mercedes now, which is worth about £400 or £500 a week," he explained. Mr Bedford said he doesn't know who has carried out the vandalism, but suspects it was the same person each time.
"It always happens once we've gone to bed, after 12-30pm," he said. "I never had any problems until this council business started, but I can't say that the two are connected."
"The police have been round again, and they'll see what they can do, but it's getting ridiculous," he added.
EHDC refused permission for an application for change of use from dwelling to shared dwelling and taxi business at 29 The Maltings in December last year. It has now gone to appeal, but a date has not yet been set.
In the mean time, Mr Bedford has applied to the council for a certificate of lawfulness - to use a kitchen as an office to administrate the business, and provide an additional parking space, at the same address.