Tony told to move his Kettering greenhouse or it will be classed as flytipping

A Kettering man who put up a greenhouse for his community to use has been told to move it - or it will be treated as flytipping.

Tony French, 53, dismantled the 7ft by 8ft glass structure before moving it piece by piece to a communal area behind his Scott Road flat in August.

After laying paving slabs he rebuilt it and Tony and his neighbours have been using it to do some community gardening since, growing herbs, carrots and strawberries.

But Kettering Council say it has to be moved or it will be classed as flytipping because they would bear the responsibility if there was an accident.

Tony, who has lived in Scott Road for 13 years, said: "It's overkill. I just cannot see what the problem is.

"How is anyone going to injure themselves on that?

"There's other things to worry about. It's only a greenhouse, but it would be a shame if it had to go."

After sending a letter to Tony and his neighbours a council officer visited the greenhouse and slapped two 'under investigation' stickers on it.

They want him to move it to a tenant's garden. But Tony lives in a first floor flat without a garden and the ground floor flats have gardens which are in the shade, meaning plants would get no sunlight.

Tony, an ex-soldier who suffers with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after serving in Belfast between 1988 and 1991, says he is willing to take the glass out and replace it with perspex if makes it safer.

He added: "Nobody in the community has a problem with it.

"People have been coming out, taking it in turns to do a little bit of gardening. It's just brought us all closer together and has really helped in the pandemic.

"The only other person who comes round the back is the postman. It's not in the way."

A letter sent to residents by Kettering Council neighbourhood manager Glyn Dowdell said: "It has to be moved as it is on communal land and therefore the council bears responsibility should someone injure themselves on it.

"If it is removed to a garden then the tenant bears the responsibility as it is on their land.

"If it is not moved and nobody comes forward as its owner I would have to treat it as flytipping and arrange for its removal."

Kettering Council was contacted for a comment on Thursday afternoon (November 19) but they are yet to respond.

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