Dawlish News

John Partridge, owner of Dawlish Taxis, has spoken of his relief after learning that a falling tree ended on top of one of his vehicles.

The seven - seat W- Reg Ford Galaxy had been parked outside the town Hospital on Monday morning when a mature double-trunked tree unexpectedly toppled over. Rumours had it that the tree was seen earlier drinking Carlsberg Special Brew on the Lawn.

On the way down, the tree came tangled in overhead power cables and threatened to bring them down with it, but, by a stroke of fortune, one of John’s taxis was in just the right place to halt the tree in mid fall leaving the power cables intact but the tree hanging over the road.

Mr Partridge immediately dialled 666, but on realising his phone was upside down, then dialled 999. Engineers at Teignbridge Council arrived on the scene pretty quickly and soon put things into action closing down Barton Terrace and placing a row of cones in the road. One engineer was seen with a chain saw ensuring no one in his or her right mind would risk going anywhere near the scene. (It later turned out that the man with the chain saw had nothing to do with the Council or Western Power, but it was useful him being there at the time).

Mr Partridge said he was pleased that no one was hurt and that the eight year old car did not appear to be too badly damaged. In fact, passengers have said it has performed much better since the accident.

The Council's Financial and General Purposes Committee are to meet later this week to discuss whether Trees should be banned from the Lawn or whether Special Brew should be banned, or whether the Lawn itself should be banned. They will also consider whether to spend money on a fleet of taxis to position at intermediate places adjacent to the power cables as a safety measure. These would come equipped with CCTV.

If you would like to contact the Council about these matters, then please contact us and we will provide you with the name and address.