A great-grandmother has slammed an order to remove her plant pots from outside her home as “bureaucratic nonsense”. Mary Murphy, 86, had spent £50 on six pots, hydrangeas, Japanese pieris seeds, and compost, which she placed under a tree on a small communal area outside her flat in Sittingbourne, Kent, last July.
However, the housing association, Southern Housing, has told her to relocate the pots to keep the communal areas clear, despite her protests. They have warned her that if she doesn’t remove them by July 3, they will be disposed of or sold. Ms Murphy said: “I love my plants and don’t want them taken away.
“I was told by a manager that the area has to be kept clear as it is a fire evacuation route. But there’s a perfectly good path next to it. Who in their 70s or 80s is going to go over very uneven grass or even shrubs? The residents here think it’s ridiculous. It’s not just me. Everyone compliments me on them even the postman and the Amazon delivery driver. But I was told by the manager that it is not up for discussion. It’s red tape gone mad. You have the right to make your surroundings nice.”
The grandmother-of-five suspects that her housing association was alerted to the planters after another resident vandalised the shrubs earlier this month. On 12 June, Southern Housing instructed the pensioner to move her pots to her own garden or the designated gardening area for residents.
The housing association stated that this was due to its regulations on maintaining clear communal areas and that she was in violation of her tenancy agreement. Mrs Murphy, whilst admitting she has breached the agreement, argued during a meeting with estate managers on 18 June that the pots are not causing any issues where they currently are.
The former service receptionist manager at Swale Motors specifically purchased the pots so she could see them from her kitchen window and obscure the “awful and depressing” view of the bins directly opposite her flat. Despite her objections, management posted a notice through her door the following day, stating that if she did not remove the pots by Thursday, 3 July, they would “dispose of or sell” them.
Mrs Murphy has labelled the ‘ridiculous’ order as ‘red tape gone mad’. A spokesperson for Southern Housing said: “We’ve a designated area for residents’ plants and gardening at Tannery Court which is available for everybody to enjoy. We work with residents to keep all remaining communal outdoor spaces free, as agreed within their tenancy agreement.
“If we allowed items in this area, it would prevent our grounds maintenance team carrying out contracted works, such as grass cutting and de-weeding. This work is covered by an annual service charge that our residents pay, so it’s important this work is upheld to a high standard.
“Our team have been in touch with Mrs Murphy who has refused the alternative locations we’ve presented to her. This includes moving her plants to the designated area or within her own raised garden area outside the front of her home. We encourage everyone to use communal areas considerately, so they remain enjoyable for all residents.”