EXCLUSIVE: The survivor of the Battle to Save Quantity 43: Grandfather, 65, who was attacked by constructing employee at protest to cease home being demolished to make means for cycle path turned violent

A grandfather was left with bruises and a free tooth after a employee allegedly attacked him at an indication in opposition to a brand new cycle path.

Vaughn Williams, 65, was participating in a peaceable protest when a contractor jumped out of his van and began throwing punches, it’s claimed.

Half-time Asda supply driver Mr Williams was left with a lump on his head, a bruised cheek and a free tooth from the assault.

The daddy-of-four was protesting in opposition to plans to demolish a £300,000 home in his quiet cul-de-sac in Pontprennau, Cardiff, to make means for the cycle path.

The marketing campaign to ‘Save Quantity 43’ from the bulldozers turned ugly on the early-morning protest 10 days in the past.

Vaughn Williams, 65, was left with a bruised cheek and a free tooth following the alleged assault

Protestor Vaughn Williams attempting to cease the van moments earlier than he was allegedly assaulted

Police are investigating the alleged assault following the demonstration within the suburb of Pontprennau

Mr Williams was holding a banner throughout the entry street to a brand new social housing property subsequent to the leafy and well-established Clôs Nant Glaswg, the place he has lived fortunately for 27 years.

Police and builders Edenstone Group have been knowledgeable that the protest was set for between 7.15am and seven.45am however nobody advised the location staff.

They turned up for work to see their entrance blocked, sparking a verbal confrontation earlier than a black van arrived on the scene.

Mr Williams mentioned: ‘It drove in direction of us gently pushing me again in opposition to the hedge. Then the motive force bought out.

‘I used to be holding up my cell phone to movie what was taking place when he hit it out of my grasp and stamped on it.

Two males sq. up to one another because the row over ‘Quantity 43’ in Pontprennau turns ugly

The property has now been surrounded by a fence as anger continues to brew amongst locals

The destruction order for the property types a part of a proposal for 45 new social housing properties – comprising 22 flats and 23 homes – subsequent to the prevailing non-public properties on the leafy outskirts of Cardiff

‘The subsequent factor he grabbed maintain of me and began throwing punches into my ribs and I took a glancing blow to my cheek.’

Former police officer Mr Williams briefly grappled with the person 25 years his junior earlier than breaking free.

He mentioned: ‘I had a lump on my head and a bruised cheek – a couple of days later a tooth on that aspect of my face got here free.

‘It was a peaceable protest, the banners mentioned Cease the Demolition and Save our Road. The police drove previous and gave us the thumbs up.

‘However this particular person acted like a lunatic. It was an act of violence, there was no want for it.

‘There may be one other entrance to the constructing website, the employees may have simply used that one as an alternative. We weren’t blocking it.’

Mr Williams’ spouse Alison added: ‘The person throwing the punches was so much youthful than my husband.

‘How would he prefer it if somebody began throwing punches at his father? It is no approach to behave.’

The four-bedroom non-public house, which is lower than 20 years previous, shall be flattened to create a cycle path to a brand new ‘reasonably priced’ housing improvement

South Wales Police are investigating the alleged assault and learning the video footage filmed by shocked protestors.

Mr and Mrs Williams, who ran a fish and chip store enterprise collectively for 25 years, say they don’t have any objection to the social housing scheme subsequent door however they can not see the purpose of a cycle path which can lead onto their property after which go nowhere.

The couple and their neighbours are indignant that Cardiff Council gave the go-ahead for his or her quiet property to be ‘ripped aside’ by the cycle path connecting the brand new property into Clôs Nant Glaswg.

They level out that ‘Clos’ is Welsh for ‘Shut’ however the three-metre-wide path will open up the property ruining their secure and peaceable setting.

Mr Williams added: ‘We purchased into an in depth 27 years in the past now, of their knowledge, they need to open it as much as one and all and make it a proper of means.

‘We won’t work out why they want connectivity to our property – the trail will really go nowhere.’

Inside 24 hours of the alleged assault, workmen arrived to place up a nine-foot-high wood fence round Quantity 43, which has been empty for six months.

The house owners agreed to promote the 20-year-old property now resulting from be flattened to make means for the trail.

‘Hazard Maintain out’ boards have been nailed to the wood fence together with a Welsh language signal belonging to Newport-based non-public safety firm Aegis, introduced in to guard the location.

Extra protests are anticipated when the bulldozers arrive to knock down Quantity 43.