Line painters find a way around road brock

From http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/8271754.Line_painters_find_a_way_around_road_brock___/?ref=mr

The famous white stripes of the humble badger seem to have been put to an unusual use lately, saving the taxpayer money for paint and council contractors a few seconds on their long days.

Reader Kevin Maul was on his way home from work when he noticed double white lines had been painted on an S bend near the county border on the A338.

Lying sadly amid the fresh paint, however, was a badger who had breathed his last more than a week before.

Mr Maul, who had been posting flyers for his business Lawntender around Fordingbridge and Damerham, said: “I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I saw him, this poor old badger who had been there over a week.

“I’d seen him every day as I went by and wondered if he was going to be picked up. Then on Friday I drove home to see his body between the lines - they had painted the road, but left a gap where he lay.”

Councillor Mel Kendal, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for environment said: “We would usually liaise with our colleagues at the district council who dispose of animal carcasses on the highways to ensure the badger was removed before the white line painting crew did this stretch of road.

“This appears not to have happened in this case and the white line painting crew did what they thought was best until arrangements could be made to dispose of the carcass.

“These arrangements have now been made and the gap in the white lines will be filled in and at no extra cost to the council taxpayer.”