Town councillors have unanimously agreed to spend up to £3,500 to move the flowers from Talisman Square into new planters, which will hopefully be installed on Station Road.

The group Friends of Talisman Square (FoTS) has been told by developer Cobalt Estate to remove all the greenery from the town centre car park by the end of March.

Plans to turn the site into flats and more shops were denied last year, much to the relief of many locals.

However, Cobalt Estates' lawyers have advised the plants should be removed following recent unsuccessful attempts by FoTS and others to list the area as an 'Asset of Community Value', which have twice been rejected by Warwick District Council. 

FoTS is now working to find a new home for the plants, and has been handed a boost by Kenilworth Town Council which on Thursday (February 29) approved a request to help pay for new planters, soil and other associated items.

"Sadly, and despite the best efforts of many councillors, Cobalt Estates have given notice to the Friends of Talisman Square that the planting that we have come to love in the town has got to be removed by the end of March," Cllr Zoe Leventhal said at this week's full council meeting. 

"A group of us…have been working closely with the Friends of Talisman Square to find alternative locations. 

"Currently there is an exploration of various locations, potentially partly in Station Road and partly at the school [Kenilworth School]."

Station Road was permanently closed in February 2023 by Warwickshire County Council (image by James Smith)

FoTS says it has also been given some private donations to help fund the planters.

But permission still needs to be granted by Warwickshire County Council - which owns the land around Station Road - for the planters to be installed.

Cllr Kate Dickson added: "I know there are some concerns because it is an urgent agreement that we need. 

"There are timelines in place because there is a deadline for when the planting needs to be removed. 

"There are obviously deadlines for anybody we are commissioning to do any work as they need the time to be able to do it. 

"That being said, the planters will allow the plants to be put in a safe space, but if they need to be moved, they will be in a vessel which can still be moved."

Station Road was permanently closed in February 2023, following a public consultation that was criticised by town councillors.

The overall scheme had the backing of the town council, while the county's consultation early last year led to letters both in favour and against.

The town council has been working on plans to fully pedestrianize the road, but no major works have taken place in the last year, with the 'parklet' of painted benches continuing to fill the space.