Cheshire East Council has removed the lock from a public open area in Alsager town centre to allow uninterrupted access to the gardens.

The Northhome Gardens, on Crewe Road, Alsager, known as the B'hoys Community Garden is owned by Cheshire East.

Northolme Gardens was renamed the B'hoys Community Gardens in 2011 to celebrate both the restoration of the gardens and the centenary of social club 'The B'hoys of Alsager'.

Speaking at an Alsager Town Council meeting of Planning, Environment and Community Committee, Alsager Town Clerk, Nicola Clarke, told councillors that Elaine Webster, Ansa parks manager, had informed her that there was no service level agreement between Cheshire East and a local resident, who was opening and closing the gate every day.

However, in recent months the resident had not been opening or closing the gate on occasions.

Mrs Clarke said: "They [the resident] want to have the gate opened because they don't want to take on any responsibility for it with it being Cheshire East's land."

The town clerk told the committee that she had received "lengthy" emails from residents who were complaining that the gate is now open all the time.

Cllr June Buckley said: "It used to be that the gardens were open from 8am to 9pm every day, but it has been all over the place recently.

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"They are public gardens paid for out of the public purse, but they are being treated like they belong to the residents who live nearby, and they don't."