Porchester Road scheme making progress

After receiving comments from both local residents and local councillors, the city council has agreed to remove the bench from their plans for the environmental improvement project on the open space at Porchester Road (between the road and Wotton Brook).

The objective of the scheme is to improve natural habitats to encourage butterflies and bees and also engage local communities more with the outdoors. There will also be work done to create new drainage structures beneath the footway which will help drain flood water into the brook.

Councillor David Brown, who welcomed these changes, said: "Several people contacted me with concerns about the bench so I'm glad it's been removed.

"We should see a big improvement in the area when this work is completed.

"I'm also pleased that the funding for the project covers maintenance work for the next 15 years and I look forward to the area being kept tidy."