Thank you for your help!
appreciate the clarity.
Yes I agree, it’s a monstrosity and also dangerous. Also it’s hardly the best option for VM as it stands. I’ve already put a garden tool through the green sheathing by accident and my elderly mother has tripped over it.
I sort of feel I’m hardly obliged to go to the effort of encouraging VM to come out and sort it but I thought it best to try for the benefit of other neighbours who do use VM.
I’ll give it a few days and see what happens.
thanks for your help.