?THE wilful or malicious destruction of public or private property, especially of anything beautiful or artistic, the spoiling or destruction of artistic or cultural achievement?.
This is how my dictionary describes vandalism and it goes on to say ?a vandal is a person who willfully or maliciously defaces or destroys public or private property.
In this age of smashed windows, locked public toilets, burnt out cars and mindless damage to anything beautiful, no-one could be blamed for thinking that the ring road at Okehampton (that is the Moorland Ring Road) was another victim of mindless vandalism.
I had, for some time, looked forward to a trip around this road and when my son offered to drive me around it I was delighted.
I don?t know who is responsible for the condition of this road. It is now almost impassible for private cars. Vandals?
I grew up in Okehampton, I loved the moor, climbing the tors, basking in the sunshine by its streams, watching and listening to the skylarks, picking whortleberries and enjoying the whole scene.
For those of us who are now too old or infirm, or both, as I am, the ring road was a way to at least recapture some of those lovely days. This is the age of the car. The road did not interfere with anyone using the moor for any other purpose.
It must be restored for us all to enjoy again.
F S Brooks
3 Lymeborne Avenue
Exeter