People who live in the country typically like the natural, unspoilt views from their front door, the lack of urban blight, and things like that.
So when an upstart store decides to fly an advertising blimp over their premises, you might not be surprised to find some of the locals taking exception to it.
Using shotguns.
It's a village known for its picture postcard image and well-to-do community, the absolute epitome of Englishness.
But in the skies above Ditchling in West Sussex, a less than gentile state-of-affairs is occurring.
A ‘blimp war’ is raging between villagers and the Big Box Self Storage company who have raised a giant advertising inflatable over their rural idyll.
The garish white, blue and green helium balloon, which can be seen from a mile away, has even been shot down by angry locals who say it is a blot on the landscape.
But bosses who have been granted a six month licence to fly the blimp - named after first world war airships - patched it up and flew it again over Ditchling Common Country Park.
City trader Martin Harris, 43, who lives with his family in a secluded £750,000 cottage overlooking the country park, said: ‘We moved to the middle of the countryside because we wanted beautiful countryside views, but that blimp is a real stain on the horizon.
‘This is a picturesque area, and looking over the country park is a delight all year round - but when that balloon is up, your eye is automatically drawn to it and it really spoils the scene.'
. . .
The 30ft by 10ft blimp first went up earlier this month.
Before granting permission, the CAA consulted with Air Traffic Control at Swanick; the low flying operational squadron at RAF Wittering in Sussex; the Sussex police helicopter support unit and Burgess Hill police.
It was mysteriously shot down days later but undeterred bosses patched up the airship emblazoned with the words Big Box Self Storage.
Ditchling Big Box branch manager, Mike Rayner, said: ‘The blimp was intended to boost our business. After all, the economy is not exactly flying high.
‘We only fly it in good weather, and we did not set out to upset local residents.’
Well, mate, you may not have set out to do so - but I'd say you succeeded! I'm entirely on the side of the residents. If you're living in a pastoral paradise, who needs that sort of nonsense polluting your view?
It appears that the firm is now flying the blimp at a higher altitude, to keep it out of shotgun range. I'm thinking of offering the locals one or two of my deer rifles on loan - provided I get pictures of the results!
Peter
5 comments:
Wrong approach. Don't shoot it DOWN. Cut the line and let it go UP, or at least AWAY.
Great idea, Bob, but the chances of getting caught doing the deed go way up, too. Hmm, now if would be possible for someone to just shoot the tether lines to sever them, it solves the problem....
You're right: If they have to chase the damned thing down a few times, it's more likely to make them give up that form of advertising than if they just have to patch it. And if somebody was floating that bugger near my back yard, I'd be out there with a deer rifle and a 'scope! So would most of the neighbors, too. A target like that in a rural hunting area? Who could resist?!?
‘We only fly it in good weather’
So, only when people want to be out looking at the countryside.
When I was a boy, we had a high-voltage power line running next to our farm. The power company used small aircraft---usually bright yellow piper cubs to inspect the lines. Some of our neighbors objected to the low flying aircraft. The planes occasionally buzzed cattle setting them off in a stampede.
Thereafter, some folks started using the planes for target practice with their goose guns (long barreled, full choke 10 and 12ga shotguns.) A few weeks later, the planes no longer buzzed cattle and few at a higher altitude.
I'm thinking a real deadeye could shoot the line and let it waft heavenward and elsewhere! ;)
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