Former Cambridge Mayor leads campaign to reverse cuts in Cambridge 'flower power'

16 September 2007

Many of the unique flower displays that make Cambridge parks and green spaces so special are to be chopped by Cambridge City Council to cut costs.

Now, former Mayor and Labour Councillor Robert Dryden is leading a campaign to reverse this decision, and a stream of local residents have already contacted Robert to pledge their support.

Bedding plants and hanging baskets across the city will be cut back, including large parts of the Christ's Pieces and Jesus Green bedding. Colour-full Cambridge beds that are replanted as often as monthly to keep a constant flower show through most of year are to be replaced by shrubs and permanent planting. The City Council also plans to close its Cherry Hinton Hall propagation centre which has grown the city's flowers for decades. The flower cut plan follows the retirement, in early September of both the council's Head of City Services and its plant nursery manager.

Former mayor Councillor Robert Dryden, and Labour Councillor for Cherry Hinton where the nursery is based, said: 'It is a real shame. Cambridge is famous for its flower beds and hanging baskets. Christ's Pieces looks beautiful throughout the the spring and summer. Now, those flower displays will be replaced with year round plants, basically what you see in supermarket car parks that are cheap and low maintenance. It is a downgrading that I know local people are objecting to, given the stream of people who have already rung me to object.

'All this for maybe £25,000 a year, and even then we don't know the true cost as Councillors have so far been denied any chance to discuss and investigate this issue. All I know is that its a service that local people would rather see continue, instead of seeing this money disappear elsewhere into the council's coffers.'

Coun Dryden is also concerned that the propagation centre in his ward will be demolished: 'The council is looking at that possibility but I don't know if they will be allowed to do it. Overall, its outrageous that the Council has gone ahead with these sweeping cuts in floral displays without any consultation or investigation of the alternatives.'