A retired detective who put flowerpots outside his house to ‘brighten up’ his neighbourhood has been ordered to remove them by his local council.
Peter Langdon, 57, placed pots of primroses, alliums and tulips just outside his £1.2million house in Hamble, Hampshire.
But the homeowner received a letter from the council telling him that the flowerpots were an illegal obstruction under the Highways Act 1980.
Mr Langdon said he put the flowers outside after residents began comparing the seaside village to ‘Gaza’ because of its poor condition.
Mr Langdon said: ‘Given the disgraceful state of the roads in Hamble Square and Hamble Lane and lack of effort to beautify the Square, you would have thought the council would have been grateful for efforts to make the historic Square more attractive to visitors to help the struggling businesses hit by Labour’s tax rises.’
‘I’m just trying to make the street look a little bit nicer off my own back. Why does the council have a problem with that? I’m the one doing what they should be doing.’
He said that when his windows are open, they extend further out than the plant pots placed on the street. He added that signs and bins are also left on the pavement with no issues.
His home, a timber-framed Grade II listed building, is believed to be over 400 years old and renowned comedian Jim Davidson lived there until 2024.
Peter Langdon, 57, was ordered to remove the pots of primroses, alliums and tulips just outside his £1.2million house in Hamble, Hampshire
The house is a timber-framed Grade II listed building and is believed to be over 400 years old
Hampshire County Council even removed bollards from the pavement on the street last year, which locals said has led to vans and articulated trucks parking there. Unlike the flowerpots, they said no action was taken to stop the vans and trucks lined up on the street.
Mr Langdon has owned the £1.2million house for ten years but moved in after Jim Davidson left 18 months ago.
He said: ‘The roads here are all cracked with steel bits coming out that puncture cars’ tyres.
‘I’ve spent £2,000 to repair wheels that have cracked on the road outside here.
‘And the council have removed bollards so cars and vans, even articulated lorries, can park on the pavement.
‘It’s cracked the pavements. One older lady tripped over and hurt herself just the other day.
‘The council should have spent a day filling them in with a shovel and a bag of gravel instead of writing legal letters.
‘The Square is where everyone who visits Hamble gets off the bus, but it’s described by locals as looking like Gaza because of all the holes.
Mr Langdon said that when his windows are open, they extend further out than the plant pots placed on the street
‘I’ve bought a Land Rover Defender now just to get through the roads in Hamble.
‘They have no money to fix that but they have the money to come out and take issue with this.’
Mr Langdon said that he is the one ‘doing what the council should be doing’ and that their opposition is ‘bureaucratic’ and ‘trivial’.
He said: ‘The pubs all keep their signs on the pavement, some have flowerpots out, others have bins out. I don’t mind that – no one minds that.
‘It’s up to the council’s discretion what they enforce and what they don’t.
‘It’s just like the police having discretion to deal with crimes and they choose to deal with social media posts rather than burglars.
‘They might try to take me to court but I want to be reasonable and sort this out.
‘It’s so trivial but I think it’s a sign of the bureaucratic nonsense they’re engaged in now.’
Mr Langdon said he put the flowers outside after residents began comparing the seaside village to ‘Gaza’ because of its poor condition
Others in Hamble came out in support of Mr Langdon. Local pasty shop owner Hulya D’Arcy said: ‘I think it looks amazing, but that’s Hamble for you. It’s just complain, complain, complain.
‘It’s beautiful there, especially in summer. And no, it’s not obstructing the highway.’
A spokesman for Hampshire County Council said: ‘We have contacted the resident following a complaint received about items placed on the pavement that were obstructing access.
‘We appreciate that the intention here was to enhance the area outside the property.
‘However, where features encroach onto highway land, we ask that they are removed or that the boundary is clearly marked.
‘Keeping public spaces unobstructed is important, as even small changes can affect access and safety for people using the verge or footway.
‘As the highway authority, we have a responsibility to ensure that these areas remain safe and accessible for everyone.’
