Defiant rebels re-open garden - News - getreading - Reading Evening Post

The group reopened the Silver Street garden, dramatically shut down last year, and held a barbecue for members of the public. The scene at the garden â " full of people enjoying food and listening to music â " was in stark contrast to scenes in October, when Thames Valley Police officers and Reading Borough Council officials forced the gardeners out. This prompted disappointment among the gardeners who decided to take matters into their own hands over the weekend and reopen.

Gardener David Oâ Connell said: â I was very impressed by the turn-out, I expect perhaps 150 to 200 people came in to have a look throughout the day. Many signed our petition to keep the land open for public use and agreed any future use of the site must be decided by referendum of the community â " and passing motorists beeped their horns in support as they drove past.

Our free food and music was incredibly popular, â " during the day people took their families along to enjoy the space and contribute food and drink. It was really nice to see strangers all meeting in a community space.â And there was more good news â " Reading Borough Council has preliminarily agreed on two potential sites for a new garden.

Katesgrove Residentsâ Association and the council have worked together and hope to turn land either at the corner of Southampton Street and Crown Street or at the junction of Elgar Road and Berkeley Avenue â " or both sites â " into a new garden for the community. The garden or gardens would become the responsibility of the residentsâ association and would be designed and run by local homeowners.

Katesgrove councillor and council leader David Sutton said: â The way the council officers have worked creatively to identify these two new community gardens is excellent. The residentsâ association are on board and welcome a new garden. They are potentially lovely sites.â Fellow Katesgrove councillor Gareth Epps added: â The idea of transforming wasteland into open spaces for the community makes great sense.

There is an acknowledged shortage of open space in this part of Katesgrove and a community garden would make a great resource for many local residents.â Although Saturdayâ s event went without a hitch it was not carried out with the councilâ s approval.

Council spokesman Oscar Mortali said: â The holding of any event on the site would be unauthorised, as it is private land. The councilâ s principal concern is with the health and safety of members of the public who try to enter the premises or the garden and as such we would not advise any member of the public to try to access the site.

The council did not consent to any event nor does it accept any liability for damage or injury and anybody who enters the site would do so at their own risk.â MyWeb Ma.gnolia Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?

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