eMAIL 5

 Dear Ms XX, … Apropos our 10.51 am telephone conversation 

This email is to confirm my call to you at 10:51am today to register my concern and outrage in regard to the way were treated as customers yesterday. Albeit that Mr B did not make good his threat to turn up at our address with a ‘cherry picker’ - my description not his – “under police escort” – my clear and unambiguous recollection – to do what he deemed was required. As a way forward, and for reasons of safety, I agreed to the most minimal pruning of the vegetation and that I did not expect to see a ‘police escort’ in site. What choice did I have? 

I did however request of Mr B that I be telephoned when the work team were on site to authorise their entry, given that entry to property, even over it, required my permission otherwise it would be tantamount to trespass. That undertaking on Mr B’s part was not fulfilled, thus given the backgrounding and my request was indeed ‘trespass’ and especially so, occasioned as it was by inappropriate commentary from a member of the work team towards my wife. 

Tasnetworks really does need to think long and hard in regard to how the operation engages with ‘the community’. Bureaucratic bullying just does not cut it! That said, your own behaviours I find no fault with whatsoever and it must be said that you have conducted yourself in an extremely courteous and absolutely professional manner on every occasion that we have spoken. However, I cannot find it in myself to describe Mr Bester’s conduct similarly. 

I acknowledge that you have “escalated this case” and I look forward to an outcome that pays due respect to the amenity of our property along with a suite of outcomes I am highly unlikely be the beneficiary of given yesterday’s experience and the apparent bureaucratic disregard Tasnetworks holds for the concerns, sensitivities and sensibilities held within the wider community.

Yours sincerely,

Ray Norman