A woman has been forced to remove flower pots by the local council, despite having them outside her home for more than two years.
On September 2, East Riding of Yorkshire Council emailed Judith Seeley, 58, from Patrington in East Yorkshire, telling her to remove them over concerns they were causing an obstruction.
Ms Seeley replied to the Conservative minority-led council informing them that the plant pots “caused no access problems”.
She added that she “received much admiration” in the time she had them outside her home.
However, the local authority said the planters took up “a third of the footpath” and therefore caused a “safety hazard”.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council emailed Judith Seeley, 58, from Patrington in East Yorkshire, telling her to remove the plant pots
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A street scene enforcement officer told the 58-year-old in writing that, following a complaint about the planters, she had seven days to remove them.
Ms Seeley explained that her mother, who uses a mobility scooter, had not experienced any difficulties travelling along the pathway outside her home because of the planters.
She said: “Everyone that passes admires or comments on them and I have never had any issues or told they’re causing a problem.”
The Patrington resident said she still had the plant pots outside her home on Wednesday, but planned to adhere to the council’s removal request.
The Patrington resident said she still had the plant pots outside her home Wednesday
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The 58-year-old added: “It’s frustrating when you try to enhance the village.
“You’ve got to abide by the rules but it is a shame, it just takes one person to complain.”
An East Riding of Yorkshire spokesman said: “This house is on the edge of a junction on to Eastgate in Patrington, and because of the amount of footpath these planters take up, they may force people out into the road.”
The local authority added that the plant plots risked causing a “safety hazard to people using the path, including children on bikes, people with wheelchairs, pushchairs and people with limited vision”.
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The local authority added that the plant plots risked causing a ‘safety hazard to people using the path’
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Council street obstruction laws prohibit wilfully obstruction a footpath or pavement under the Highways Act 1980.
The act outlines obstructions as building materials, overhanging trees, plants and even parked vehicles on pavements.
Occupiers who fall foul of the rules can be slapped with fines of up to £1,000 and an additional cost of removal.
While some councils have a “zero tolerance” policy towards plant pots outside homes, some authorities do allow for small displays under strict conditions.
The stipulations often require the pots not to be obstructing escape routes and to made from non-flammable materials.
According to a study by the Royal Horticulture Society, 72 per cent of British adults own at least one houseplant.
The highest concentration of owners come from the 16-24 year old age group with four in five (80 per cent) reporting to to be owners.