Manor House rampage "highlights society's flaws" (From Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)

Rampage at Manor House in Burnham "highlights society's flaws"

12:27pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By Matthew Colledge

A BUSINESSMAN whose new office was smashed up by vandals says the rampage highlights major flaws in society.

Mark Woods, managing director of Watermark Financial Solutions, is converting the iconic Manor House in Manor Gardens, Burnham, with a view to moving the firm from its current base in High Street.

Manor House, which has been plagued by vandals over the past decade, was targeted again this week.

Intruders used a hammer to break in then took scaffolding planks to smash through glass doors inside.

Mr Woods said: “They smashed some other doors off their hinges and went round with a hammer, damaging the newly plastered internal walls.

“I was not particularly surprised. This is the worst damage I’ve had but I’ve been in Burnham over 20 years and we’ve had a window smashed on average once a year.

“This is one of the things we have to put up with in Burnham. Police are powerless to stop it. It’s very sad but it’s the way society is.

“There’s an element of society with a chip on its shoulder, and it’s people like me, who are trying to get on and create jobs, who bear the brunt of their anger.”

Mr Woods said the attack, which was discovered one morning last week, caused around £1,000 of damage.

The building work at Manor House could be finished by the end of next month and the firm may move in the month after.

Mr Woods added: “We are about to re-render the outside of the building. Internally, we’ve made two very large open-plan spaces, upstairs and downstairs.

“The move is not a massive priority at the moment, though, because we still have our current office, and the work will be done when it’s done.”