Historic gardens in the centre of Dartmouth are neglected and offers of help have been turned down by the town’s mayor without discussion with the council, it has been claimed.
Old Dartmothians have been involved in improving and, indeed, creating, parts of Royal Avenue Gardens, since the group was founded on Regatta Sunday in 1923.
Members have offered their help to refurbish the fishpond in the gardens and deal with rats that nest behind it.
Once a well-known botanical garden boasting a ginko tree, a tulip tree and a Chinese windmill palm, it is now a site for fundraising and other activities. Its appearance today contrasts with that of years ago.
The Old Darts desire to see the gardens returned to their former glory was made clear to the mayor, Cllr Richard Cooke, when he was a guest at the annual Old Dartmothians’ regatta reunion dinner. Robert Waycott, the newly-elected president of the Old Dartmothians said in his speech: ”Big changes appear to be on the horizon with the proposed taking over of additional responsibilities for the town council from South Hams District Council. Mr Mayor this may be an appropriate time and opportunity to bring back some of the changes to benefit the town?
“I’m sure I speak for all of us when I mention how nice it would be to see the Royal Avenue Gardens returned to its former glory. This area of the town is very special to Dartmothians, with areas of the gardens formed and maintained by us due to the dedicated work performed by many of our members.
“Do we need to see the grassed and floral ares used as picnic areas? Or football pitches, or the bandstand used often as a large shelter for people when its raining? I think not.
“I like many of you can still hear Mr Bowhay [in charge of the gardens in the past] shouting ‘Get off that grass’. Simple remedies, such as ‘Please keep off the grass’, locking the bandstand, would go a long way to helping.”
The Chronicle has obtained copies of the by-laws pertaining to Royal Avenue Gardens. With the placement of signs saying: “‘Keep off the grass’, it would be an offence to walk on these areas. It is an offence to bring a skateboard or use roller skates in the gardens and all cycles and vehicles are not to be used “without reasonable excuse.”
The Old Dartmothians’ offer to refurbish the fishpond was the subject of a question posed to the mayor at Monday’s town council meeting, by Les Barnes.
Mr Barnes, a former town councillor and area manager for South Hams District Council responsible for Royal Avenue Gardens, told the Chronicle: “The gardens were my pride and joy.” He asked the mayor: “They [the Old Dartmothians] are prepared to go ahead and put it [the pond] back in tip top condition. The Old Darts have got lots and lots of people and craftsmen. Rumour has it that the town council has said no, we want to do it ourselves?”
Cllr Cooke responded: “It’s not a rumour. I wrote to the Old Dartmothians myself. I had some discussions with the people who are likely to be working in the gardens, from the time, that is, if this council takes over the gardens. What I requested was, that we’d be delighted for old Dartmothians to sort out the gardens but that it could be done in conjunction with the other volunteers we have and people that we hope will be our paid staff who will be working in the parks and gardens as well.
“Now the takeover [the transfer of assets from South Hams District Council to Dartmouth Town Council] was supposed to be in April, then it was June, then July, then August and then it was going to be September. If it’s October-November, we’ll be lucky. Things are slipping. I’ll give you a report on that later but it’s not our fault. So, yes, we’ll be delighted to have the Old Dartmothians working on that but in conjunction with the other things that will be going on in the park. What we don’t want is people going off on their own, in different directions, while we waiting to find out if we will be responsible for the gardens next year or not.”
Mr Barnes replied: “Sorry you’re not answering my question. The Old Darts are ready to do this now. Why can’t we have part of our gardens put back into pristine condition rather than wait for ages and ages? Will you give an answer? Can the Old Darts go ahead do the fishpond or not?”
After hearing Cllr Cooke’s response to the Old Darts, Cllr Iris Pritchard raised a point of order: “I do believe you said you had discussions with some people outside the council. I think there shouldn’t have been discussions without all the councillors. It should have been put before the council to be discussed. I think it’s an absolutely fantastic offer.”
After continuing her praise of the Old Dartmothians, Cllr Pritchard sat down.
Cllr Cooke did not address her point of order but did say: “We do not own the gardens now, so we cannot give permission. But if a councillor for South Hams wanted to give a point of information?”
This opportunity was taken up by district councillor Hilary Bastone who said he would willing take up the offer [from the Old Dartmothians] and suggested the Old Dartmothians write to the district council, which would hopefully say: “Yes”, adding, “just as the three district councillors [Cllrs Bastone, Rowe and Hawkins] did previously with Woofstock. We said yes, we supported Woofstock.”
Former mayor and Old Dartmothian Richard Rendle said after the meeting: “Prior to the council meeting, we had already contacted South Hams and a site meeting, which is yet to take place, was arranged.”