A flower bed in Elm Park broadway planted by Tina Death, destroyed during regeneration work

Havering Council leader Cllr Michael White has issued an apology to volunteers who worked on the clean-up of Elm Park Broadway last year before regeneration work began on the area.

Tina Death, of Elm Park Florists, wrote to the Recorder describing her anger after she was a part of 30 volunteers who helped plant flower beds in the area and were praised by the council.

Workers on the council’s regeneration of the area dumped tarmac onto one of the flowerbeds before digging it up in early February.

She said: “What hurts… is the mess left behind and the pride of Elm Park destroyed in less than one day by thoughtless contractors and unconcerned officers.

“What exactly was the council thinking when it encouraged the Elm Park Clean Up Campaign just weeks ago?”

Cllr Michael White, said this week:

“Unfortunately, while carrying out the improvement works, we needed to lift a flower bed that was planted during a community clean-up last November.

“We know people put a lot of effort into the clean-up and we’re extremely sorry. We’ll replace the flowers that were donated and will work with the community to arrange for them to be planted at a later date.”