A grandad from Reading has been left in desperation as the community garden he has set up is set to be torn down.
Steve Ellis, 59, lives in a ground-floor council flat at the Hexham Road estate in Whitley.
He has set up a community garden with plants, a poly tunnel, wooden fencing, a seating area and more outside the block in Bamburgh Close.
But all of it is set to go as the installed without the consent of Reading Borough Council.
Mr Ellis said: “They’re coming to remove it.
“It’s just ridiculous, the neighbours and kids in the community come over to grow fruits and vegetables.
“Every other resident wants this garden, and I’ve been maintaining it.
“I’m not tearing the garden apart. I just want to provide something for the community, come here out and do my prayers.”
As well as creating the communal garden area, Mr Ellis added a ramp for his 13-year-old son, who is wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy.
He claimed the council want to remove the ramp, and that it is failing to fix a leak and other issues in his flat.
Mr Ellis said: “I’ve done most of the paperwork for my neighbours for their repairs, but the council haven’t done any repairs for me, it’s disgusting.
“When the person above has a shower, the walls in my flat look like they are crying, I’ve been living like that God knows how long.
“When the council refurbished the flats a few years ago, they left me and my mum there while they did the refurbishment.
“This is the last straw.”
Mr Ellis has a one-bed flat and three children, which he helps parent about three times a week.
When they visit him, they have to share a room.
He said: “My daughters, who are 16 and 10, don’t want to come down here.”
Mr Ellis then mentioned that he would like to move into a home in Southcote he claims has been empty for four and a half years.
He also stated a woman from the office of Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading Central, had been in touch with him.
Mr Ellis was sent a letter on September 9 notifying him that the garden structures would be removed on September 15.
It also raised issues relating to his two dogs fouling and being off their leads, and flying a Jamaican flag from his flat.
Mr Ellis said: “I’ve been visited by the dog warden twice and I’ve been given a clean bill of health.
“Now they say I must take my flag down, it’s going too far now!”
Claims about repairs, being left in the flat during refurbishment and potential rehousing have not been substantiated by the council.
Footage sent by a videographer at 9.45am on September 15 shows council staff at the flats, along with another videographer documenting the removals.
Responding to Mr Ellis’ complaints, a council spokesperson said: “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.
“The council has received complaints from residents living in the blocks regarding uncollected dog fouling, dogs being allowed to roam off lead, and the unauthorised use of communal land.
“The garden is maintained by the council’s grounds maintenance team, who have been unable to carry out routine maintenance due to the levels of dog fouling and the presence of unauthorised structures and personal items. This not only impacts the safe enjoyment of the space by other residents but also restricts its intended communal use.
“We have been engaging with Mr Ellis over an extended period with the aim of resolving these issues informally and asking for the removal of items from the communal gardens. However, the items have remained in place or been moved between locations. As a result, we now need to take further steps to ensure the communal areas are safe, accessible and available for all residents, and that the council meets its responsibilities in relation to health, safety and fire risk management.
“Claims that the council has requested the removal of an accessibility ramp are incorrect. The council has not requested its removal and is currently liaising with relevant services regarding the potential installation of a more suitable modular ramp.
“In relation to tenancy matters, tenants are required to comply with the conditions of their tenancy agreement and the council’s rules for communal areas. The council has a responsibility to all residents living in the block, and tenancy enforcement action may be considered where breaches continue, and reasonable requests are not complied with.”
