A 'muddy mess': Anger as council rips up flower beds
FURIOUS residents are demanding answers after flower beds were ripped up and a "muddy mess" was left behind.
People living in the Avenues say the flower plots at the end of each street, where they meet Princes Avenue, have characterised the area for years.
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'MUDDY MESS': Dr Haris Livas-Dawes next to one of the empty flower beds at the junction of Westbourne Avenue and Princes Avenue. Picture: Jack Harland
But council workers have now removed all the plants, leaving just the soil behind.
The move has outraged residents' groups, one of which paid for fencing around the flowers and shrubbery, so they would be protected from damage.
Dr Haris Livas-Dawes, who heads the Westbourne East Neighbourhood Watch group, said: "There was no consultation at all with the people most concerned.
"There is no reason why anything should have been taken out.
"The beds were one of the most beautiful aspects of the Avenues – but now they are just a muddy mess.
"The beautiful flowering shrubs have been ripped out, leaving a sea of mud."
Westbourne East residents paid for the fencing about five years ago.
They bought them to protect the flowers and shrubs from walkers and cyclists who went straight through them.
Jackie Ward Lomax, who lives in Victoria Avenue, said: "This isn't the first time something like this has happened.
"At the roundabout on our Avenue, they took all the flowers out and now it is just grass.
"Apparently, people complained they were too high to see other vehicles. But now it just looks boring.
"I hope the council will replace them with something nice."
Stephanie Wilson, who chairs the Avenues And Pearson Park Residents' Association (APPRA), said they may have been taken away to make the roads safer.
She said: "I am staggered. I knew nothing about it – why don't they tell us?
"I do know I have fielded a lot of complaints, particularly about the Westbourne corner, because drivers think it is dangerous.
"But the council was asked to trim them – not uproot them.
"They were looking absolutely beautiful.
"Presumably the new bulbs underneath have gone as well."
APPRA will be holding a residents' meeting next week, where the issue will be discussed further.
Mrs Wilson, who lives in Marlborough Avenue, said: "We will see what people want us to do.
"If residents want us to make some noise and try to get to the bottom of what is happening, we will."
The Mail contacted Hull City Council about the issue.
We asked the authority why residents had not been told about the planting, why the shrubs were removed and what would be happening to the beds.
A spokesman said: "The flower beds are being replanted.
"The shrubs and flowers had been there for ages and pruning wouldn't have helped them.
"We have decided to get some new ones."
Have you got a story for the Avenues? E-mail Emma Wright at e.wright@mail newsmedia.co.uk or call 01482 315154.
9 Comments
by 1Tommygunn
Friday, February 03 2012, 10:55PM
“High growing shrubs at junctions are a danger if one doesn't take care but surely we have enough thiefs and burglars currently on ASBOS to plant some bedding plants.”
by harryoffdock2
Thursday, February 02 2012, 5:58PM
“Oh dear, the Avenues resident busy bodies are at it again. If they aren't moaning about front doors or satellite dishes, it's grass verges and plants. They should consider themselves lucky that this the biggest gripe that they have. Get a life you sad people.”
by AveTiger
Thursday, February 02 2012, 5:52PM
“The shrubs were removed because car drivers and pedestrians couldn't see each other and it was dangerous. It's a bit drastic, but if this is the most important thing Dr Livas-Dawes has to worry about, then she's very lucky. There's a family across the other side of the city looking for their missing family member, so some people should get things into perspective.”
by mikeavenues
Thursday, February 02 2012, 5:13PM
“It does worry me when people who put themselves up to represent the residents don't seem to read the minutes of Wyke Area Committee, to which a report has been submitted (well before Christmas and available on the Council website) regarding these beds.
The shrubs are too large for the location and are a real danger to the visibility of both car drivers and pedestrians, they have been regularly pruned back but that takes off the flowers. They are parkland shrubs rather than for this location and are to be replaced with plants that will not grow so tall according to the report.
By the way I'm no fan of the Area Committee but they do get it right sometimes if rather slowly”
by E_Badger
Thursday, February 02 2012, 1:25PM
“Typical Council worker time saving "pruning" policy. Why waste time making lots of little plant sympathetic cuts, when one big cut (at the base stem) will do. And now they have to spend more money on re-planting what was already green and verdant. Numpties.”
by charleswelton
Thursday, February 02 2012, 10:11AM
“Every garden has a life-span, they need regenerating every now and again, this approach is rather drastic and unimaginitive.”
by sammyspoint
Thursday, February 02 2012, 10:08AM
“Ive just found an empty crisp packet stuck on my fence post could the HDM send a reporter round”
by Bill_Billy
Thursday, February 02 2012, 9:34AM
“I know a lot of people criticise the HDM for no reason but this really must be the biggest non-story ever published!
The council have taken the plants up & are going to replace them, why the big ordeal & meetings?
Some people really do need to get a life.”
by 25JG24
Thursday, February 02 2012, 9:12AM
“"A spokesman said: "The flower beds are being replanted" so in fact this is a non-story and another excuse for moaners to get their 15 minutes of fame. Do they really expect the elected council to consult them over routine matters? HDM loves to fill its pages with pictures of people in front of inanimate objects, as if we can't be expected to visualise a 'muddy mess', although actually what the picture shows is a flower bed without any plants in it, which is exactly what it is!”