An Ipswich resident, Michael Greenway, has taken the unusual step of removing a border within his front garden amid an ongoing dispute with the Ipswich Borough Council over the flowers he had thoughtfully planted in the area.
The issue arose when Mr. Greenway received communication from the council, stating that their maintenance team was unable to mow the lawn of the council-managed garden because of the flowers he had placed around the borders and within a central strip.
Ipswich Borough Council had previously emphasized the necessity for their grounds maintenance team to have “full access” to execute their work.
In response to this directive, Mr. Greenway, a resident of Widgeon Close for four years, decided to remove the middle strip of flowers in the garden, which is shared with his neighbors. He stated, “I was told I needed to take them up or else they would rip them up, so I took them up, just to keep them happy, and put the flowers in the borders around the outside. I have not thrown the flowers away.”
This situation has taken an emotional toll on Mr. Greenway, who traditionally spent his summer days tending to the garden to create a pleasant environment. His neighbors, too, appreciated the vibrant display of colors.
To garner support, Mr. Greenway initiated a petition among his neighbors, which has now garnered 120 signatures.
Mr. Greenway is currently in remission from lung cancer and has previously faced challenges with depression. Caring for the garden has served as a therapeutic outlet for him. He shared that the council had pledged to assist him in finding an allotment for his gardening hobby, but to date, he has not received any updates regarding this commitment.
The council had reiterated its need for “full access” for the grounds maintenance team to carry out their responsibilities.
In response, an Ipswich Borough Council spokesperson clarified, “Our Parks team agreed to cultivate an area within an allotment field before assisting Mr. Greenway with transportation of his plants from the communal garden to his own allotment space. Recent heavy rainfall has delayed this cultivation, but once complete, we will contact Mr. Greenway to discuss the next steps as a new allotment plot holder.”
The ongoing dispute underscores the challenges of maintaining communal spaces while considering the wishes and efforts of residents like Mr. Greenway.
