A GRAN is locked in a ferocious stand-off with her local council after she was ordered to chop down her beloved shrubs because they are "DANGEROUS".
Becky Curtis, 84, says neighbours love the green plants covering her quaint village home in Essex – but council jobsworths claim they endanger families with buggies and dog walkers.
She was shocked to receive a letter saying that “various complaints” had been received about vegetation “encroaching on to the pavement”.
Mrs Curtis said: “I always cut back the balotta as hard as I can without killing it every Autumn, and I don’t see why I should do it before it has even flowered. We must do what we can to help the bees.”
In recent weeks, plentiful rain has led to the foliage spilling over her 30 inch high wall and on to the pavement more than in previous years.
Green-fingered Mrs Curtis insisted that there was still a three-foot gap which was clear of any obstruction, enabling people to walk past without any problem.
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But Dedham parish council has ruled that her outsize balotta, acanthus and choiysa plants are a potential danger.
In a letter sent to her, it is asked: “Please can you cut back the overhanging vegetation so as not to obstruct the pavement for pedestrians. Thank you for your co-operation with this.”
Officials have told her they need to be urgently cut back to clear the footpath in front of her south-facing garden.
Mrs Curtis, who had horticultural training in the 1950s, is resisting the demand with the support of many villagers.
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She fears that any large scale pruning will deprive local bumble bees of their annual feast on the pink flowers of her two giant balotta plants when they bloom later in the summer.
Mrs Curtis said: “I always cut back the balotta as hard as I can without killing it every Autumn, and I don’t see why I should do it before it has even flowered. We must do what we can to help the bees.
“I was quite taken aback to receive the letter saying the council had received complaints. They didn’t say how many complaints. I guess it might only have been one person.
“I spoke to a lady from the council, and she told me that I had to comply as it was a health and safety issue. I was told that if somebody had two children and a push chair and a dog they might find it difficult to pass."
COUNCIL 'TALKING RUBBISH'
Becky says the more she thought about it, the less she wanted to cave into the council's requests.
She believes it will "just look horrible" to cut them back now so feels strongly about leaving it for the moment.
Becky said: "I don’t want to do anything unless I am absolutely forced to. I don’t want to make the village look dreary.
“Everyone I have spoken to is absolutely supportive and believes that the council is talking rubbish. People are not sure if the parish council actually has the power to force me to do anything.
“The lady from the council told me that there needed to be room for people with prams and dogs to walk past, but there is still plenty of space on the pavement.
“I am a bit stuck because the council will be furious if I do nothing, and if I cut it back then people will say, ‘Why did you do that?’”
Mrs Curtis, a widowed mother-of-two with five grandchildren, grew up in her historic family home in the village High Street before moving out and then returning around 50 years ago after she had been married for five years.
She planted her array of shrubs in her front garden around 30-years-ago to add to the magnificent display of the wisteria which has grown up the Georgian frontage of her house for more than 100 years.
Mrs Curtis, a long standing member of the Dedham Horticultural Society, added: “People always stop and ask me about the garden, and want to know the names of the plants. Most people seem to think it is very nice.
“The plants have always grown over my wall, but they are just six or seven inches further out on to the pavement this year because they have grown bigger and bigger with all of the rain we have had.”
I don’t want to do anything unless I am absolutely forced to. I don’t want to make the village look dreary
Mrs Curtis’ daughter-in-law has written a poem on a sign in support of her plants, and placed it in her garden so it can be read by tourists who are attracted to Dedham and its surrounding countryside which featured in works by artist John Constable.
A visitor to the village posted a napkin through her door with a handwritten message on it, saying: “We passed your lovely house and enjoyed your front garden. It adds joy to the street and beauty, and supports our air quality.”
Mrs Curtis’ neighbour Lucy Casey, 45, said: “The plants are beautiful and do not cause any trouble at all. Everyone I have spoken to thinks the council is crazy. It is ridiculous that they are being so officious.
“Several people complained about the lack of parking for residents who do not have driveways. The council did not seem at all interested in that, but they are happy to make a fuss about some harmless plants.”
Mary Jones, 63, from Purley, Surrey, who was visiting for the day, said: “It is a stunning display. The balotta looks lovely and it would be a shame to destroy it now by cutting it back.
“There is loads of space on the pavement. You could easily get past in a wheelchair or on a mobility scooter.”
Dedham parish council clerk Carol Harbach insisted that the council was entitled to take action over pavement blockages in some cases, but was unable to comment on what enforcement action could be taken.
The council said in a statement: “We have received a number of complaints by other residents and we don’t ask people unless it is a health and safety matter.
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“We are obliged as a council to undertake these requests to cut back vegetation when it is overgrown.
“It is something which is obstructing the footpath and we have an obligation to deal with hedges and keep the footpath safe.”
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