Residents fury at Council brings about turn

Smethurst Street overgrown area of land transformed into a community garden

Residents Jean Rawlinson and Steve Challinor transformed an overgrown area of land opposite their properties into a community garden filled with plants, fresh grass and decked areas.

Rochdale Council originally wanted the residents to pay £385 planning permission and £50 per plot to keep the garden but have this afternoon changed their mind.

Jean Rawlinson, who helped with the project said: “We found out this afternoon that the council have changed their mind and said we can keep the garden without paying for it.”

Jean, who was delighted with the news from the council has been living on Smethurst Street for seven months and said she was once ashamed of the land opposite her house. She said: “It was all over grown with weeds and nettles and it was being used for fly tipping. There was a matrasses and an old divan bed on there.”

Mayor Peter Rush delivered the news to Jean this afternoon and also pledged his support for the garden.

Jean and Steve spent £200 on the project and completely renovated the area. The garden also includes birdhouses all around and is attracting wildlife, which has never been there before. Jean added: “Its full of birds now and we have squirrels making an appearance that wouldn’t have done before.”

The project is still on going with half of the area still needing work. The completed garden started in spring and took six months to complete and is loved by everyone in the area. “We did this for everyone” said Jean. “It just makes the street look nice and everyone loves it.”

With work still undergoing on the garden, Jean and Steve hope to enter their garden into Heywood in Bloom next year and Jean said: “This time next year, it will be much bigger and better.”