A CITY councillor has criticised plans to remove three planters in Mackworth at a cost of nearly £1,500.
Former Mayor of Derby and Mackworth councillor Lisa Higginbottom said the plans to remove the structures from Mackworth "made her very angry".
She believes the work is a waste of money at a time of cuts and says locals will miss them.
She added that she thought the money should be saved and reinvested into hanging baskets.
Mrs Higginbottom said: "In my view, the planters are a simple way of spreading a little sunshine when in bloom. To pay nearly £1,500 to remove them for no reason is not justifiable. It's not right.
"I can't understand the reasoning for it. We need to encourage local community spirit for people to keep planting in them, looking after them and maintaining them.
"There is no need to spend this money.
"By all means they can be removed or replaced when and if changes are made to parking in the future but not yet.
"There are future plans for Mackworth and I'm all for progress.
"But until that happens, they should not be moved. I'm incensed at this decision because it's being spent on destruction."
But fellow Mackworth councillor Paul Pegg believes locals would not maintain the plants.
He said reinvesting £1,500 into hanging baskets is "a lot of money for three months of the year".
He said: "We always get the same volunteers all of the time. That's a fact of life. That's where I'm coming from, I'm a realist.
"It's not realistic to keep them there. Locals will not maintain them."
But Mrs Higginbottom said: "If people are encouraged, then yes they will.
"It's about getting people engaged and talking to locals about what they want to happen.
"I'm sure they will want the planters to stay. In the summer they are really special and look good."
She also dismissed any concerns that the planters were causing problems for disabled people.
She said: "I've spoken to people who use the disabled bays and they have not expressed concern."
Local resident Karen Smith said she wanted them to stay.
Karen, 44, of Chiswick Close, said: "Nearly £1,500 is a lot of money for that work to be carried out.
"It seems a waste when there is not a problem with them.
"They should not be removed because they are part of the shopping area and they brighten it up.
"They are not an eyesore when they don't have plants in – and when they do they look very nice. They look lovely and it would be a shame to see them go."
