Damage by scaffolders

[Bowiecat13]

Good morning
Scaffolders came to my home yesterday to erect scaffolding to repair a roof fascia. After they left, (we did not go outside whilst they were here because of physical distancing during Covid) I discovered they had unnecessarily severed the main and considerable root of a 25 year old clematis which was climbing right across the width of my property and currently in full bloom of course. It has totally been killed, no way of saving it. Obviously, there is no intrinsic value in the plant but can I go after them for any sort of criminal damage? Negligence or anything at all? I realise this is a long shot but thought I'd ask the question! Grateful for any feedback.

[2222]

Forget criminal damage. However, you may well have a civil case. You have a right to have the work done in a competent manner. I am not a scaffolder, so I cannot say whether it was necessary to kill your plant in order to erect the scaffold, although you say it was not. They certainly have some explaining to do.

Valuing the damage done is difficult. The cost of a clematis is low, but as you say it has taken 25 years of nurture. Would you say that the value of your house has been diminished?