Grandmother, 89, fights council over St John's Wood street garden

Katharine Hoskyns, an 89-year-old grandmother, has been informed by Westminster City Council that she may be required to dismantle a street garden she has tended for over 25 years. The council issued a notice demanding its removal after receiving complaints from residents alleging anti-social behaviour.

Mrs Hoskyns transformed a small area outside her home in St John's Wood into a garden featuring a bench and plant pots more than two decades ago. The retired teacher stated that she derives pleasure from tending to her plants and that neighbours often assist her. She believes only one neighbour has objected to the garden, claiming the complaints about anti-social behaviour are unfounded.

Council's formal process

Westminster City Council dispatched a letter at the end of July stating it had received complaints from "members of the local community." The council indicated that fallen pots could pose an injury risk and that the structural safety of the bench had not been verified. Following receipt of the enforcement notice, Mrs Hoskyns, with family assistance, submitted a case to the council, including a petition with 60 signatures at that time.

A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: "Following a series of resident complaints and attempts to resolve this dispute informally over several years, the council was, reluctantly, obliged to begin a formal process. Residents should be able to live without anti-social behaviour impacting on their lives. Moving this bench will help reduce the recent disturbance in the area. We remain hopeful that we can resolve the situation amicably."

Community support

Mrs Hoskyns' son, Nicky Hoskyns, launched a petition to preserve the garden, which has since collected 190 signatures. He stated that the family and supporters are actively campaigning and that the response from neighbours has been overwhelmingly positive. The deadline for removal has passed without action from the council, and Mrs Hoskyns and her family are prepared to continue responding to any further communications.