Oxfordshire County Council will take legal action to recover money from builder Ian Beesley who demolished a speed hump in Oxford.

Locals at Ian Beesley's pub, Walter Mittey's give him their backing

As Mr Beesley's notoriety grew yesterday after his story in the Oxford Mail was followed up by national newspapers, radio and TV stations, council managers said the crossing would be repaired and Mr Beesley would have to pay for it.

Mr Beesley -- known as 'Digger' to his friends -- used his own JCB to dig up the speed hump in Ferry Hinksey Road after claiming he had been unable to sleep since it was installed because of the noise of lorries going over it.

The traffic-calming measures were installed to slow down traffic outside West Oxford Primary School.

Since he took the action on Saturday, he has received much public support, both locally and nationally. Thame town councillor and former town mayor Don Butler said: "When they started putting speed humps in Thame, we used to jokingly say we should get a digger and a bulldozer to get rid of them. Now this chap has actually gone and done it. I think it's absolutely brilliant.

"I would very much like to employ Mr Beesley to come and take out some speed humps for me in Thame."

Mr Beesley's wife Lillian, 41, said: "I've had lots of calls from well-wishers all over the country -- places like Manchester, Royston, Leeds and Birmingham. This is an issue that affects everyone. People are fed up with local councils' traffic schemes."

She said the crossing in Ferry Hinksey Road did not need to be raised because schoolchildren could use the new toucan crossing.

But the chairman of governors at West Oxford School, Athene Reiss, said the school had campaigned for years for traffic calming and was delighted with the implemented scheme.

The vast majority of people who replied to consultation backed the scheme, she added.

Headteacher Julie St Clair Hoare said it had forced traffic to slow down and the street was now quieter, not noisier.

Builder Mr Beesley, 41, said he sought advice from the Citizens' Advice Bureau before resorting to digging up the road on Saturday morning.

"I just lost my rag," he said.

The Oxford Mail yesterday received dozens of calls about the stunt.

Tracy Dunkley, of Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, said: "I totally agree with what he has done and support him 100 per cent.

Michelle Webb, 32, of Verbena Way, Greater Leys, Oxford, said she supported Mr Beesley and would not want noisy traffic calming keeping her three children awake if it affected her own street.

Meanwhile, at Walter Mittey's -- a pub run by the Beesleys on Osney Island, Oxford -- regulars backed him.

Robin Edwards, 45, said: "I think it was very impulsive and he fully expects that he will pay the consequences, but he is ready for that. I sympathise with their deprivation of sleep, which is their main problem.

The county council itself removed similar humps from Oxford's Longwall Street and St Cross Road in August 2001.

Some residents there had complained of vibrations, said traffic flow was less than transport planners had expected and the speed cushions tended to break up.

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