New garden centre "blocking pavement" (From Barry And District News)

New garden centre "blocking pavement"

MOTHERS living on a Barry street claim they are being forced to walk on the road with prams and pushchairs - because a new garden centre is blocking the pavement with displays of plants.

Residents have voiced concerns about Romilly Garden Supplies on the corner of Gaen Street and Pontypridd Road, claiming a skip was parked in a public lane, plants and flowers displayed on a public bench, and visitors to the garden centre parking in nearby streets - preventing residents from parking outside their homes.

But the owner of the garden centre, Marc Davies, has hit back at the criticism, saying most of it is unfounded and that he is just trying to run his business.

One resident who did not wish to be named said: "Parking over the weekend is horrendous - once you go out someone jumps in your place straight away.

"At the weekend it's really difficult to park outside your house - we have to park on Salisbury Road.

"They are blocking the pavement with their flowers. You can't push a pram up the street. At 3.30pm when the schools finish it's chaotic - all the flowers are being knocked over. They also display their plants on a public bench. And when it's raining, it's so slippery with the mud - it's an accident waiting to happen."

She added: "About 15 households have complained and even people have complained who don't live in the street.

"We don't want the garden centre closed down, we just want them to realise that they can't take up all the pavement."

Owner Mr Davies said: "We had to get a skip to clear all the junk left behind by the previous occupier, but it has now been removed.

"We put the skip in the lane because not many people use the lane and the only other place would have been on the road outside someone's house.

"With regards to the plants on pavement, the council came and showed me which part of the pavement I shouldn't display stock, and I haven't displayed stock in that area since.