Community left disappointed after 'mini park' removed by Warwickshire council...
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 7:03 pm
It was set up in a parking space
A community in Warwickshire has been left disappointed after a much-loved ‘mini park’ in a parking space was removed after just six months by the council after ‘one complaint’.
Dad-of-two Adam Tranter, 31, who is the Bike Mayor in Coventry, set up a ‘parklet’ in a parking space on the high street in Kenilworth last year - but was forced to bid farewell to it after it was dismantled by Warwickshire County Council.
Adam, who runs a marketing agency with wife Aurélie Tranter, set up the ‘parklet’ in September in a bid to create ‘a bit more community space’ in his area and said it became a much-loved picnic spot before its removal last Thursday (April 8).
Adam said he was told by local residents that the county council acted on a single complaint that the parklet was taking up a parking space.
He described the removal of the parklet as a ‘big loss’ for their community but says he won’t give up on the parklet and is considering other options - including mounting a bench on the side of a truck before parking in the space.
Adam, who is originally from Coventry, said: “It was only small, but the parklet was a real gem of the town - everyone seemed to really appreciate it and it was good for local businesses too.
“Whenever I would pass it there would be people sat chatting on the benches, with a takeaway coffee.
"Taking away just one little parking space made hundreds of people happy, but it was also its downfall after someone decided it was better used for a car.
“We’re so used to looking for somewhere to park cars that we’ve forgotten what towns are supposed to be for - they should be places for friends to meet and have a chat, and the parklet facilitated that.
"It's a real loss for the community."
With the help of friends, Adam first set up the parklet in September last year after spotting the emerging ‘parklet’ trend on social media - and within days it had become a much-loved feature of Kenilworth high street.
The parklet featured grass, chairs and benches as well as flowerbeds and bunting - and became an increasingly popular hangout which was "always being used", including by himself and his own family.