Local residents have expressed their "anger and frustration" at the "crazy" news volunteers will have to remove the plants from Talisman Square.

Despite having recently been refused planning permission to redevelop the car park at the town centre shopping area into flats, developer Cobalt Estates has told Friends of Talisman Square (FoTS) it must remove all the planting from the past few years.

FoTS says it has continued to ask the landowner - with the help of Kenilworth Town Council - to spare the plants, but has been unable to come to an agreement.

The group was originally given a deadline of November to remove the plants, but this was extended until the end of March which has been set as a hard deadline.

Volunteers have already spoken about their "sadness" and "deep regret" following the decision, but now locals have also voiced their opinions.

"I'm feeling very angry and frustrated about the insistence to remove all of the lovely planting from Talisman Square," resident Kate Smith told Nub News.

"I know I'm not alone in this."

Other residents have also taken to social media to vent their frustration.

"This will really spoil a vibrant part of Kenilworth, a place to sit, the shop fronts have a beautiful outlook and the car park is brilliant if you are elderly and can't walk too far, you are immediately in the centre," one local said.

Another added: "This is appalling its such a lovely area and so much hard work has gone into it."

Calling on Councillors

Kate Smith has also written to local councillors asking them to do what they can to block the scheme, and is encouraging others to do the same.

"Please could you inform me what the district and town councillors are doing to challenge this crazy scheme to remove all the lovely planting from Talisman Square," the letter to councillors said.

"Feeling is running very high amongst Kenilworth residents.

"Not one single person I've spoken to supports this plan and it is widely seen as a spiteful ploy on behalf of the landowners to pave the way for future, unpopular building development on this site.

"There can be no valid justification for destroying the efforts of local volunteers to enhance our environment."

Community Asset

Members at Kenilworth Town Council have previously been vocal about the need to protect Talisman Square from further development.

The council previously backed an application to have the site listed as an 'Asset of Community Value' (ACV) - although this was ultimately blocked by Warwick District Council.

"The test is whether the actual current use of the building or land furthers the social interest and wellbeing of the local people," said Cllr Zoe Leventhal last September.

"For my part I can't think of another place in Kenilworth that does that more [than Talisman Square]. 

"Given its community links and the number of shops and the biodiversity that has been introduced there, I think we should support the application and hope we as a town council can add some specific issues."

"We should support the members of Friends of Talisman Square," Cllr Richard Dickson said at the same meeting. 

"I am sure members here are well aware of the important work that they do."

Developer's Decision

The planting was originally given Cobalt's consent and some financial contributions - a statement from the company said.

However, Cobalt Estates' lawyers have advised it should be removed following recent unsuccessful attempts by FoTS and others to list the area as an ACV, which have twice been rejected by the district council. 

Listing the site as an ACV would have forced Cobalt to offer the sale of the land to the community group for six months, before it was allowed to put it on the open market.

The company said this would have "implications on the long-term viability of the centre" and lawyers said removing the planting would "discourage further speculative attempts at a listing".

Hugo Hawkings, chief executive of Discovery Properties, the developer of Talisman Square, said: "After the advice given to Cobalt Estates to remove the planting by its lawyers, meetings were held to see if alternative solutions could be found. 

"Once it was clear that none were forthcoming, a later deadline of March 2024 was agreed to allow the Friends enough time to remove the planting, while also allowing enough time for Cobalt Estates to install new landscaping during the growing season. 

"We are very disappointed that it has come to this, as like everyone else we appreciated the efforts of the community to brighten this area up.  

"However, repeated attempts to have the area listed as an ACV have forced Cobalt Estates to take this step."