A CUL-DE-SAC is in a race against time to stop the “systematic destruction” of roses planted in memory of an elderly neighbour’s son. 

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Residents in Mayfair Gardens, Woodford Green have been planting their own roses in the middle of the close for over 30 years, claiming Redbridge Council “does not maintain the area properly”.

So they were "shocked and upset" when they saw council contractors digging them up on Monday morning (October 3). 

When approached, the contractors said the council told them to rip out the roses and grass over them in order to "cut costs".

Peter O’ Donnell, 65, who has lived in Mayfair Gardens for 28 years said: “Luckily some of us were at home when they arrived, otherwise they would have ripped out the lot.

“There’s only two left now – this is going to upset a lot of people.”

Joan Reeve, 90, has lived in Mayfair Gardens since 1958.

She said: “When you’re 90-years-old and disabled, this kind of thing is a real problem.

“The council hasn’t taken care of the cul-de-sac at all.

“People have worked hard to plant their own flowers and they have made a real difference to the area.

“When my son died three years ago, instead of giving me flowers, my neighbours clubbed together to plant roses in his memory.”

After Mrs Reeve and her neighbours confronted the contractors, they agreed to go and come back again on Thursday (October 6).

Mrs Reeve added: “We’re all very anxious, because if the council doesn’t listen to us by the time they come back, all the roses will be destroyed.

“If they looked after them properly in the first place, this kind of thing wouldn’t happen.

“We live in a small, unfashionable part of Woodford so apparently we don’t matter.

“I want to know what they have to say for themselves”

Mrs Reeve’s neighbour Jill Hopkins leafleted all 46 houses in the cul-de-sac on Monday night, urging them to complain to the council in her quest to save the remaining roses.

The 63-year-old said: “It’s all very upsetting.

“People have worked so hard for more than 30 years to keep those rose bushes tidy and now they want to rip them out without consulting us.

“We’re all very angry.”

Conservative Cllr for Monkhams Linda Huggett is supporting Mayfair Gardens residents’ “urgent” pleas to the council.

She said: “I have received at least 12 phone calls from angry residents over the systematic destruction of these rose bushes.

“If the roses are removed it will utterly destroy the character and charm of what is a really attractive community green oasis in the middle of the cul-de-sac.

“This is extremely distressing to residents and the council should reconsider this decision as a matter of urgency.

“This is bureaucracy gone mad and certainly a ‘cut too far.”

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: "Firstly we would like to apologise for the distress caused to residents by the removal of some of the rose shrubs in Mayfair Gardens.

"We will ensure extra effort is made in the future to speak to residents and stakeholders to avoid any repeat of this matter. 

"Where beds have been taken out or damaged, we will now work with residents to get them re-planted with appropriate flowers and shrubs. 

"The shrubs in question were being removed as part of the process to reduce the cost of grounds maintenance.

"This is one of the many difficult decisions that the council has been forced to make due to the enormous financial pressure placed on it by large-scale cuts from the Government.

"We are grateful residents alerted us to the sentimental value of this site, as we can now work together to find a new way forward for Mayfair Gardens."