St Albans family 'insulted' after vegetable patch branded as 'fly tip'

Will Wright moved to De Tany Court with his wife and children two years ago and was keen to make the place feel like home.

Inspired by their new neighbours, they decided to grow some vegetables on a small patch of land behind the garden - due to their space being too small.

But on July 25 they received a letter from St Albans City and District Council (SADC) informing them that the vegetable and flower patch - which had become a passion project for the Wright's - had been deemed a fly tip and would have to be removed within seven days.

The letter SADC sent on July 25. (Image: Will Wright)

While the land is owned by St Albans City and District Council, Will didn't feel there was any harm in using it to "make the place a bit nicer."

The 39-year-old explains: "It's very upsetting. We understand that it's not our space but we didn't try and commandeer the land or anything - it's a small corner of land that was just weeded vegetation. To be told that it was fly tipping, it's a bit much.

"It's become a nice little project so it comes as a shock to be told that it wasn't allowed."

Will is hoping to reach a compromise with the council (Image: Will Wright) A council spokesperson said: “The council received a query from a resident asking whether use of council land adjacent to De Tany Court had been authorised.

"The council, not having been approached with a proposal, and with no agreement in place for the land to be used, looked into the matter, and subsequently asked that the various belongings there be removed, which is standard practice for use of land without consent."

Will hopes that "sense will prevail", telling this newspaper that he's written to SADC twice in the hope of reaching a resolution that allows the patch to remain.

The spokesperson hinted that an agreement could be found, saying: “The council is open to proposals involving the use of council land, and each proposal is considered on its merits."

Will admits the strength of the letter's wording was "slightly surprising" and urged SADC to reconsider, saying: "This was a completely innocent project that was only hoping to bring a tiny bit of joy to a small area of weeded space.

"It's slightly insulting for growing vegetables to be called fly tipping."

While initially the family had until August 2 to clear the patch, SADC said that it has written to Will today (August 5) to grant an extension until September 14, while they review his request to keep the vegetable patch.

Will has described this as "good new for now".