Poundbury resident handed eviction notice after dispute over potted plants
Alexandra Wilson-Jones claims that the events are related
A resident of Vickery Court in Poundbury has said she was completely shocked to receive an eviction notice and claims it could only be down to a dispute about her plant collection outside of her rented home.
Alexandra Wilson-Jones was told to reduce the number of plants in June by representatives of the Duchy of Cornwall who said they looked out of place with the rest of the communal courtyard.
And now she has received an eviction notice, to leave the property on the 27th of September, leaving the resident heartbroken:
“It’s a very shocking sequence of events and bewildering purely because I have some plants outside my house.”
Ms Wilson-Jones feels like the eviction has come out of nowhere, particularly as she claims that she was never told that she may need permission from the Duchy to place her potted plants outside her house.
“I’m not being accused of being in breach of the Poundbury stipulations so I cannot think of why on earth they would find what I’ve done offensive because it’s certainly not a hazard.”
And despite receiving several complaints about the size of her plant collection, she says that her garden has been a great asset for the community.
“This garden has been greatly appreciated by a wide audience. A lot of the people that live in Poundbury bring their families and visitors into the courtyard to see the planting.”
This plant collection is from Ms Wilson-Jones’ late mothers’ home, which she is renovating to resell. She maintains that although it’s taking longer than expected due to work being delayed in coronavirus lockdowns, they have always been a temporary addition kept in pots and planters.
“I came from a property with a garden and that’s the reason these pots are here, because it would have been very difficult for me to get out seven miles to water.”
But after asking for permission to keep the plants in February, Ms Wilson-Jones’ request was rejected. She was later told to significantly reduce the size of her collection.
And now after being handed her eviction notice, Alexandra Wilson-Jones has until the end of September to find somewhere new to live but says she has been put off renting for good.
The Duchy of Cornwall did not respond to our request for comment.