An “irresponsible” and “childish” criminal is costing taxpayers hundreds of pounds by repeatedly painting over yellow lines in a Leicestershire village.
Councillors and local residents say they’ve had enough of the unknown culprit who is painting over the lines on Ratby Road, Groby.
They painted over the yellow lines last week, around Tuesday, 14 April, before Leicestershire County Council came out to the road and painted the yellow lines back in.
However, they struck again this weekend, painting over a set of yellow lines that had already been repainted by the county council.
Conservative county councillor Ozzy O’Shea he was determined to find the offender.
He also said it will cost around £600 to repair the damage, having previously cost the council £200 to fix the first time.
He added: “From my point of view, it’s criminal damage. It’s pathetic.
“It’s irresponsible to paint over double yellow lines. They’re put there for a reason, and it’s a safety reason.
“I’ve been looking to get more traffic wardens out there to get people ticketed. This will end up in court, and whoever is guilty could find themselves with a hefty fine or community service.
“This is vital money we need for council services that we’re having to waste on redoing yellow lines.”
Cllr O’Shea said that the lines are still legally enforceable despite being painted over, and motorists could still face a large fine.
Jenny Harris, who lives on Ratby Road and near the painted lines, said she thought it was “utterly ridiculous”.
She added: “The council have been out already to paint them back, and then they’ve come and just painted back over them.
“It causes us problems because we back onto the road, and if someone parks here, what do we do? Someone is coming and doing this either early in the morning or in the evening when people aren’t around.”
Another Ratby Road resident, who did not wish to be named, said a can of industrial paint was found not far from where the lines had been painted.
They said: “It’s completely childish. Before these lines were put in, we had an accident down here. Ever since they were put in, we’ve had no accidents, so they are working.
“In all my years, I’ve never known anything like it, and I’ve been here for so long.
“I can’t imagine it’s someone who is local to the village because we know the problems that happen on this road and want to look after the village.”
Carl Swann, 60, has lived on Ratby Road for 25 years and says he regularly sees cars continue to park on yellow lines.
He said: “We have three primary schools and one secondary school in Groby, and there are so many cars that continue to park on yellow lines anyway, during and outside the school run.
“Obviously, someone has done this in protest, but they’re there for a reason. I’ve sent tons of pictures to the council about cars on yellow lines around here.
“But because it’s a small village and not Leicester city, they think they can get away with it.”
A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said: “A report of criminal damage was received on Wednesday, 15 April, stating that yellow lines had been painted over in the areas of Stephenson Way and Martinshaw Lane in Ratby.
“Enquiries are continuing, and no arrests had been made at that time.”
Cllr Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for highways, transport & waste at Leicestershire County Council, said: “We received a report on Tuesday, 14 April, that the double yellow lines on Ratby Road in Groby had been deliberately painted over with black paint.
“The incident was reported to Leicestershire Police as criminal damage by the local county councillor.
“Our highways team reinstated the road markings on Thursday, 16 April, at an approximate cost of £200.
“Unfortunately, the newly repainted double yellow lines have once more been painted over, and it is believed that this was done over the weekend.
“This latest incident has again been reported to Leicestershire Police for further investigation.
“We are arranging for the double yellow lines to be reinstated again later this week.”
