02 Aug 2024
When a group of neighbours decided to transform a disused piece of council land into a space for the whole community to enjoy, they thought they were doing something positive.
But jobsworths at SADC disagreed, and have ordered them to return the site – behind properties 36-41 at De Tany Court in Cottonmill – to its previous condition.
Resident Will Wright explained: “Behind our small gardens is a piece of council land. The neighbours wanted to make it a bit nicer by planting wild flowers, installing a small arch to grow roses and use a very small patch that was previously weeds to grow some vegetables. These vegetables are shared among residents as well as with a local nursery to teach children about growing your own food. Furthermore, two senior residents installed a small bench under a tree in order to enjoy the garden in the shade.”
But on July 25 they received a letter from SADC’s estates team warning that the council did not authorise the work and any items left after a week would be treated as flytipping.
It said: “It has come to our attention that there are several items which have been placed on the council-owned open space without permission. These include a large planter, wooden bench and an iron arch and gate as well as other items.
“The council does not consent to any items being placed in this area. Should they belong to yourself we require that they are removed by no later than Friday 2 August.
“We shall carry out a further inspection after this date to check that this has been done. Any items which remain after this date will be dealt with as fly-tipping and will be dealt with accordingly.”
An SADC spokesperson confirmed their position: “The council received a query from a resident asking whether use of council land adjacent to De Tany Court had been authorised. The council, not having been approached with a proposal, and with no agreement in place for the land to be used, looked into the matter, and subsequently asked that the various belongings there be removed, which is standard practice for use of land without consent.
“The council is open to proposals involving the use of council land, and each proposal is considered on its merits. There are various matters to consider which vary from site to site, and a need to consult with stakeholders.
“Where proposals are agreed, written agreements are put in place so that everyone understands their rights and responsibilities.”
