Henstead Exotic Garden faces further delay to its official opening
Owner of the garden Andrew Brogan.The Exotic Garden in Henstead will be featuring on a TV show called Britain's Best Gardens presented by Alan Titchmarsh.Picture: James Bass - Credit: Eastern Daily Press © 2015
A garden at the centre of a planning dispute is facing further delay to this year's official opening to the public.
Henstead Exotic Garden was created by Andrew Brogan 12 years ago and featured on the television show Britain's Best Back Gardens in January, after catching the eye of gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh.
It had been due to host an open day last weekend ahead of Wednesday openings until September.
However the openings have now been delayed due to conditions associated with Mr Brogan's planning application.
The garden became the subject of a planning dispute earlier this year after Waveney District Council asked Mr Brogan to apply for retrospective planning permission for the site, changing it from residential to mixed use and to allow for visiting members of the public.
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It followed a complaint that the attraction, which sits behind Mr Brogan's 400-year-old cottage in Church Road, had brought more traffic to the village leading to a detrimental impact on the countryside.
The complaint also raised the issue of increased noise from visitors.
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However at a planning meeting last month, councillors gave the application the green light, allowing Mr Brogan to open his garden for up to 60 days each year.
But one of the conditions was for Mr Brogan to send details of provision made for parking by those visiting the gardens.
He said: 'After the meeting I sent a letter explaining what had been arranged for parking - I have three sites set aside - but I haven't heard back yet.
'I had to cancel the Bank Holiday Monday open day, and it was embarrassing because people turned up expecting us to be open.'
A Waveney Council spokesperson said: 'When planning permission was granted for the use of this
site, several conditions were attached.
'One condition was that a scheme of parking provision be submitted to and approved by the local planning authority.
'These details have been submitted and are currently going through the consideration process, which includes a period of consultation. Once this and the other conditions have been agreed, the site will be able to open once again.'
