See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:02 BST, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 18:10 BST, 3 September 2026
A 76-year-old pensioner stopped work on a construction site by blocking the diggers with her mobility scooter. Mary Roberts brought reinforcement work on a 20ft wall near her bungalow in Botley, Hampshire, to a standstill on September 1 which only ended after the police were called.The retired construction project manager parked her mobility scooter in the way and began a shouting match because the builders had done 'a hatchet job' and 'desecrated' people's homes.Ms Roberts even said that she didn't 'mind being arrested' by police officers who arrived after the building firm Walstone reported the protest.She said the confrontation between herself and the workers was 'tense' and that 'we were both shouting until police arrived.'During the stand-off one worker said she could be evicted for putting a stop to the works.But Ms Roberts, who defiantly sat there with a drink in her hand, said: 'I don't mind being arrested if it means I'm finally heard.' The work was being carried out on a large wall at the back of a row of bungalows in the Hampshire village where Ms Roberts and her sister live. Mary Robert pictured sitting on her mobility scooter in front of a digger with a mug in her hand The wall is located at the back of the 76-year-old and her sister's bungalow near Botley, Hampshire A police officers speaks with Ms Roberts on her scooter after the building firm Walstone reported the protestDespite the housing association Vivid acquiring planning permission for the construction, Ms Roberts was worried about the use of heavy machinery which she feared could collapse the wall.Ms Roberts added that her sister's home has been damaged and had water leaks during the works, but Vivid told her it was not responsible.She was also upset that the heavy-duty machinery used in the works ripped up the gardens. 'Everybody's had their gardens wrecked, some gardens have been nurtured for over ten years,' she said. 'They've desecrated so much in this hatchet job.' Ms Roberts's sister moved into the property just three months ago after falling in love with the honeysuckle plant on the garden wall which was later torn down and covered with cement.Matt Bellamy, Vivid's director of asset strategy and delivery said: 'We understand that having work carried out near your home can sometimes be worrying.'Keeping our customers and their homes safe is really important to us. Every effort is made to minimise disruption while these repairs are carried out.'We want customers to feel informed and reassured throughout these repair works, and we'll continue to work with them as the repairs progress.'A police spokesperson said: 'We were called at 8.13am (on Tuesday, September 1) to a report of a woman blocking a building site entrance in Cheping Gardens.'Officers attended and spoke to all parties. The woman moved and no crime was identified.'Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREEHave YOU got a story? Email Joshua.Haining@dailymail.co.uk
