Desperate Grandad Fights to Save Community Garden

A Reading grandad fears the community garden he set up outside his council block will be torn down.

Steve Ellis, 59, lives in a ground-floor council flat on the Hexham Road estate in Whitley. He built plants, a polytunnel, wooden fencing, seating and a ramp outside Bamburgh Close.

Reading Borough Council says the structures were installed without consent and sent Mr Ellis a letter on September 9 saying they would be removed on September 15. The letter also raised dog fouling, dogs off leads and flying a Jamaican flag.

"They're coming to remove it."

"It's just ridiculous, the neighbours and kids in the community come over to grow fruits and vegetables," Mr Ellis said. He also says the council has not fixed leaks in his flat and is threatening to remove a ramp for his 13-year-old son, who uses a wheelchair.

"Now they say I must take my flag down, it's going too far now!"

Mr Ellis has a one-bed flat and three children he helps parent. When they visit they share a room; he says his daughters "don't want to come down here."

Claims about repairs, being left in the flat during refurbishment and potential rehousing have not been substantiated by the council.

Footage from 9.45am on September 15 shows council staff at the flats with another videographer documenting removals.

"Whilst we appreciate Mr Ellis' intentions, this is a communal garden serving 22 households, and all residents should be able to enjoy and make use of the space," a council spokesperson said. They added they had received complaints about dog fouling, unauthorised structures and that grounds teams had been unable to carry out routine maintenance.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter