Middletons in Bloom Darlington told to remove planters

Floral displays by the 'Middletons in Bloom' group in Middleton St George and Middleton One Row, near Darlington, will have to be ripped out after the council said some were a trip hazard and others were installed without permission.

It left volunteers who say they "just wanted to brighten up the village" frustrated and vowing to fight to keep the displays in place.

Louise Seniscal from the group said: "We're a bit fed up with it all - we should be all working together for the good of the area.

The floral displays in Middleton St George (Image: STUART BOULTON)

"The loftier goal is that we must all work together for the good of the village.

"We feel we are being forced to dismantle and remove all the new planters around Sainsbury’s.

"We're a small group of volunteers who want to create some positivity in the village."

A Darlington Council spokesperson said while they appreciate the residents acted in good faith and understood volunteers' frustrations, permission should have been sought for the planters.

A letter sent to the group from the council's highways team said planters at Romangate should be removed from the pavement as “they are a tripping hazard on a narrow footway".

Two planters outside Sainsbury's on Station Road, Middleton St George (Image: STUART BOULTON)

It added two planters between bollards outside Sainsbury’s on Station Road must be removed because “they cannot be allowed to remain there", but can remain until the Autumn.

The local authority added a planter commemorating 200 years of the Stockton and Darlington Railway either side of a bench must be removed because “it is a substantial structure which has been built on adopted Highway land without permission”.

"We have delivered planters in previous years without issue," Louise added.

The Stockton and Darlington Railway 200 planters in Middleton St George (Image: STUART BOULTON) "They bring joy to people driving into the village, especially on the three main roads coming into the village."

A council spokesperson said: "We would like to acknowledge the community spirit shown by the volunteers and their efforts to enhance the local environment and mark the S&DR 200th anniversary.

"However, the structure was installed without permission on adopted highway land, which the council manages.

The Sainsbury's store on Station Road, Middleton St George (Image: STUART BOULTON) "The planter in question is a substantial and immovable structure, located in an area that was previously occupied by smaller, informal rockeries.

"As such, it represents a material change to the public highway and could cause maintenance, liability, and accessibility issues.
 

Both sets of planters on Station Road in the village near Darlington (Image: STUART BOULTON)

"While we appreciate that the residents acted in good faith, permission from the parish council or a private developer is not sufficient, and permission should have been sought from the council.

"We understand the disappointment this has caused the volunteers, but the legal position is clear, and we must apply our policies consistently and fairly across the borough."

Two planters on Station Road in the village near Darlington (Image: STUART BOULTON)

The council added they are offering to support the group finding other locations for possible installations and will allow those in place to stay until the end of the summer, but added: "Allowing the structure to remain beyond that point would undermine our statutory duties as the highway authority, compromise highway safety, and potentially expose the council to legal liability."

'Middletons in Bloom' say they have now been left frustrated at the "uncompromising nature" of the council's demands.

Louise continued: "Initially, we were told that the planters must be removed immediately - this quickly changed to Autumn, and now we're hoping we can battle our way to getting them to stay."