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An Oxford charity has been hit by a vicious act of vandalism which threatens
its popular service to businesses, groups and individuals all over the
county. Many will have seen the bright, cheerful, red Orinoco van as it
travels about collecting top class scrap materials from firms and factories
for future use in all kinds of handicraft, home improvement and play.
Now the van’s tyres have been stabbed with a knife, rendering the vehicle
useless and presenting Orinoco with a bill for £350 for their replacement.
Manager Howie Watkins, who leads a team of enthusiastic volunteers,
commented: ‘This is money we just haven’t got. We run a very efficient
operation and we pay our way but only just.’
Orinoco is held in great regard by Oxford people, especially those who
regularly visit its HQ at the Bullingdon Community Centre in Headington. Its
name will ring a bell with fans of the Wombles of Wimbledon,
litter-gatherers supreme, for it is named after one of the characters.
Howie said the charity had paid for two new tyres only a month ago. ‘The
van is vital because we use it to pick up waste paint and garden tools from
business and from the Redbridge recycling depot.
‘We collect scrap from business and sell it at as low cost as art
materials to schools and playgroups.
‘If we can’t get it back on the road we will have to cancel our trips.
Waste that could have been re-used will end up being binned and our
customers: mums, dads, teachers and children will be disappointed.'
The Orinoco van is more than a delivery vehicle, it doubles as a mobile
scrap shop, allowing Orinoco volunteers to take unusual art materials all
over the County. Over the next two weeks the van is due to be in Banbury,
Bicester and Didcot. These trips are now in jeapardy.
The van was bought with grant aid from Viridor Waste Credits and the
Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment and is vital to Orinoco. Without it, the
charity can't do its job.
Contact Howie Watkins, at Orinoco on 01865 761113 / 01865 764272 / 07771
708178.
Pictures (click to download high resolution file) feature (from top to
bottom): Howie and daughter Amy - a regular passenger in the van -
inspecting the damage, Howie pictured next to a damaged tyre, Close-up of
one of the knife marks, shot of the van featuring the Orinoco phone number.
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