Ledbury forced to take down hanging baskets

A Herefordshire town is having to take down its hanging baskets early this year as it lacks the staff to maintain them.

Ledbury Town Council has said that, due to staff shortages from sickness absence and annual leave, it “has not been able to provide adequate cover for watering the hanging baskets in the town this year”.

It is understood that a council employee chiefly responsible for looking after the baskets, a prominent feature of the town centre from spring to autumn, is now on long-term leave due to illness.

The hanging baskets are being taken down this morning (August 24), a month earlier than usual, “due to them not being as attractive as in past years”, the council said.

“This is not a decision that has been taken lightly, and we have tried to find alternative assistance but unfortunately to no avail,” it added.

“We would like to reassure residents and visitors alike that adequate provision for this will be in place for next year’s hanging baskets.”