Widow’s heartbreak as council orders her to dig up lockdown haven
66-YEAR-OLD who planted flowers in her local park to help her get through a lonely lockdown has been left heartbroken after she was ordered to dig them all up again.
Like others in Coombe Rise, Oadby, Anne Parker has a back gate leading on to Coombe Park, owned by the local council.
Since moving in, in 1981, she has put in attractive flowers, laid paving slabs, picked up litter and weeded the area.
During lockdown, Anne, who was widowed in 2002 and was unable to see her children because they lived in London and were shielding, spent happy times out in Coombe Park, tending the garden she had created and chatting to passers-by.
However, a stern letter from Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s legal department last week described her actions as an “unauthorised encroachment on to council land”.
If she doesn’t return the land to its original condition in 28 days of getting the letter she will be billed for the council digging up the garden themselves.
She said: “Since we moved in, in 1981, I’ve always cut the weeds and done litter-picking and we put some slabs down about 35 years ago and then I put in a buddleia.
“In lockdown I couldn’t see my family for months and I thought it was a lovely idea to do something for the community and make it nicer for people using the park.
“I’ve planted flowers and I’ve had so many people talk to me at a time when I couldn’t see my own family.
“I’ve put in plants that attracted so many bees and butterflies - I felt like I was doing something really worthwhile.”
Anne, who works as a medical secretary at St Luke’s Hospital, in Market Harborough, said she was most upset by the tone of the letter from the council’s legal department.
She said: “I never thought I would get a letter like this - making me feel like I’m a criminal.”
Her daughter Charlie, who lives in London, said: “The letter is ridicuA heavy-handed and devoid of any empathy for someone’s mental wellbeing.
“Why not send someone to talk to my mother about the legalities instead of trying to put the frighteners on her?
“I’m absolutely fuming about this. She’s been so upset by it.”
The Mercury contacted the counlously cil, which replied that Anne’s project was setting a precedent and that the paving, trellis and plants would still have to go within the 28-day limit.
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT
Dave Gill, head of law and democracy at Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, said: “We sympathise with this individual’s situation and acknowledge that the actions taken on this land are well-meaning. “While the council hasn’t previously raised issue that this resident has chosen to open up an access to the park from the bottom of their garden, allowing the recent additions of the paving, trellis and planting to remain would unfortunately set a dangerous precedent in our borough that residents can claim areas of parkland for themselves. “Standard council processes have been followed to inform the resident of the need for them to act.
“If resolved within the set timeframe, no further action will be taken.”
‘HEAVY-HANDED’ LEGAL LETTER SENT TO ANNE
Allowing additions would set a dangerous precedent that residents can claim areas of parkland for themselves
Dave Gill