Months after a notorious grot spot in Gloucester was boarded up there is still no sign of work taking place.

The Rose Garden on London Road has been shut off to the public since the end of last summer after a series of complaints from neighbours.

The garden has become a hot-spot for street drinkers who are abusive to residents in Wellington Parade and passersby, especially during the summer months.

Since it was boarded up graffiti has been sprayed on the wooden boards saying “how is this better”?

The rose garden on the corner of London Road and Great Western Road, Gloucester has been enclosed by boarding. The area had been frequented by street drinkers. There is graffiti on the boards saying 'How is this better?'
The rose garden on the corner of London Road and Great Western Road, Gloucester has been enclosed by boarding. The area had been frequented by street drinkers. There is graffiti on the boards saying 'How is this better?'

Now community leaders say red tape is delaying the start of work which will give it a makeover.

Gloucester City Councillors Jeremy Hilton and Isabel Brazil (both LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) say they expected construction work to have begun by now.

Mr Hilton said: “The delay in construction of the new garden is disappointing, but this is becoming normal with projects run by Gloucester City Council.

“With so many jobs lost under the Tories’ austerity plan, there are not enough staff to process projects on time. This really is a ‘Vanishing Council’.

Cllr Jeremy Hilton is calling for something to be done about the rose garden on the corner of Great Western Road and London Road in Gloucester. News: Citizen: 08.12.17. Photos by Anna Lythgoe. Reporter Ed Stilliard.
Cllr Jeremy Hilton is calling for something to be done about the rose garden on the corner of Great Western Road and London Road in Gloucester. News: Citizen: 08.12.17. Photos by Anna Lythgoe. Reporter Ed Stilliard.

“Isabel Brazil and I have worked hard to get an agreement for improvements to this problem garden.

 “This is not a big project, but the red tape being applied may cost more than the budget [£6,000 from councillors’ allowances] for the actual ground work.”

Recently the Tory-led council applied a new piece of legislation across the city as a weapon to fight anti-social behaviour, including street drinking at the Rose Garden, an initiative back by the Lib Dem politicians.

Ms Brazil said: “A new Public Space Protection Order banning the drinking of alcohol in public spaces along London Road recently came into force.

“The second stage of our action plan is a new layout for the garden that should discourage street drinking. The city council needs to get on with this project.”

Gloucester City Council said a timescale for work on the site was never given.

A spokesperson from Gloucester City Council said “We are working through the planning process at the moment and The Rose Garden will be redesigned and replanted as soon as possible for the local residents to enjoy.”