'Dangerous' dahlias must be removed from roadside, couple told by council

A  garden of  “dangerous” dahlias  must be removed from a village roadside because they are impeding drivers, an elderly couple has been told.

Sally Williams, 69, and her husband Brian, 80, planted the dahlias on Hollin House Lane in Loxley, near Sheffield, over three decades ago to encourage wildlife and bring colour to the quiet, rural lane.

However, following an anonymous complaint to Sheffield council, the couple were sent a letter saying that they had a week to complete the work or pay for it to be done  by the authority.

Sheffield Council said:  “We have sympathy with the nearby homeowner who has attempted to stop cars driving over the highway verge on what is a very narrow, single-track lane.

“Unfortunately the placing of flower beds, as well as stones and water barrels, on the highway outside the property, could be a danger to other road users.”

The stones were originally placed to prevent the erosion of the road, which had to be tarmacked over a few years ago after it fell into a state of disrepair.

The dahlias and shrubs had helped Mr Williams when he was going through a period of ill health and the news has left the family “absolutely devastated”.

Sally, who used to run a traditional country inn in the Peak District with Brian until they retired ten years ago stressed that the only people who come up the lane are neighbours, the postman and the milk lady.

Mrs Williams said: “They have been there a long time. We also replace the dahlias every year and maintain it all the time, as with the streets. It is deeper than a few flowers, in a time when things were bad we were leading wildlife and doing our bit for the environment. We increased butterflies, bees and birds in the area which was our primary aim.

“The land the council is supposed to manage overgrows the white lines, there are fallen leaves that are wet and dangerous. Are we going to turn this verge into something that just looks like another unmanaged verge?” she added.

Neighbours of the couple have already started a petition to keep ‘Britain in bloom’ and save the roadside garden. It has amassed over 1,000 signatures so far.