Killjoy council tells grandmother, 89, to remove beloved street garden she's spent more than two decades on after 'anti-social behaviour' complaints

An 89-year-old grandmother has been told to remove a beloved street garden she has spent more than two decades tending – after the council said it had received complaints about 'anti-social behaviour' from neighbours.Katharine Hoskyns, from north-west London, created the little oasis outside her home in St John's Wood after the council installed parking spaces where she once had a 'nice' patch of space.Since then, the retired teacher has filled the area with pots of tomatoes, geraniums and herbs, as well as a bench where neighbours can stop and chat.She said: 'I had cars parked outside my house where I used to have a nice space. I decided instead of being miserable about it I was going to make the space nice again.'I love it because I can go and potter around with my pots and people come up and talk to me. It is nice and sociable.'But last month, Westminster City Council (WCC) sent Ms Hoskyns a formal notice ordering her to remove the bench and plants, citing a 'series of complaints from residents'. Katharine Hoskyns, 89, has been told she may have to remove a beloved street garden she has spent more than two decades tending – after the council said it had received complaints about 'anti-social behaviour' from neighbours The grandmother, from north-west London, created the little oasis outside her home in St John's Wood, after the council installed parking spaces where she once had a 'nice' patch of space Since then, the retired teacher has filled the area with pots of tomatoes, geraniums and herbs, as well as a bench where neighbours can stop and chat. Pictured: Katharine Hoskyns (right) with her sister-in-law Catherine HoskynsThe council added that it had been 'reluctantly' forced to begin a formal process following a number of attempts to settle the dispute informally over the years. But according to Ms Hoskyns, there is only one neighbour who 'objects' to her garden – and insists there has never been any anti-social behaviour taking place there. She said: 'I was really upset when I got the letter. It doesn't cause obstruction, there is plenty of room for a wheelchair.'There is just one person who doesn’t like it. They thought there was anti-social behaviour on the bench. There is no anti-social behaviour.' Ms Hoskyns has lived in her home on Hamilton Gardens, a quiet cul-de-sac near Abbey Road, since the 1960s. The street is just a stone's throw from the famous Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded many of their best-known albums. Over the years, the mother-of-three gradually added the plants to the space outside her home, turning what had become a parking area into a vibrant community spot. However, the letter, sent at the end of July, said WCC had received complaints from 'members of the local community' and warned that the plants and bench could potentially create safety issues. According to Ms Hoskyns, there is only one neighbour who 'objects' to her garden – and insists there has never been any anti-social behaviour taking place there Over the years, the mother-of-three gradually added the plants to the space outside her home, turning what had become a parking area into a vibrant community spotThe council added that fallen pots could lead to injury, and that the bench had not been confirmed as being 'structurally safe'. But she refused to simply give up her garden and, with the help of her family, responded to the enforcement notice. They also launched a petition calling for the plants and bench to remain, which has now attracted 190 signatures – all collected in person.Ms Hoskyns says the campaign has brought together residents who regularly help her look after the plants.She said: 'The neighbours volunteer and help a lot. It is a community thing as well as for me. '[The council] will probably be in contact again but we will just keep replying when they do. It is not just me now, loads of people are involved and helping with the fight.'WCC had previously installed a camera near the garden to monitor the alleged anti-social behaviour, which Ms Hoskyns claims has failed to uncover any problems. She says the plants have instead become a much-loved feature of the street, with the nearby Abbey Road orchestra even giving Hamilton Gardens the nickname 'The Pots'. WCC said they had received complaints from 'members of the local community' and warned that the plants and bench could potentially create safety issues The mother-of-three has refused to simply give up her garden and, with the help of her family, responded to the enforcement notice, along with setting up a petition that has now garnered 160 signatures Her son, Nicky Hoskyns, 58, helped start the campaign and said the family had been overwhelmed by the support.He said: 'It was a bit of a shock, but we have responded. The whole family are involved and we have got a good campaign team.'Everybody we have spoken to loves the pots. There is real solid support. We haven’t had any negative feedback.'It looks like it is a battle that we can win, and we need some little wins at the moment.'It would be such a shame if we lost them. The area would be horrible without them, you really would start to get problems.'The deadline given to remove the plants has now passed without the council taking action – although Ms Hoskyns believes the dispute is far from over.WCC told SWNS: 'Following a series of resident complaints and attempts to resolve this dispute informally over several years, the council was, reluctantly, obliged to begin a formal process.'Residents should be able to live without anti-social behaviour impacting on their lives. Moving this bench will help reduce the recent disturbance in the area.'We remain hopeful that we can resolve the situation amicably'. The Daily Mail has contacted WCC for comment.