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A council was today accused of wasting £100,000 of taxpayers' money after an award-winning "living wall" died.
The 30ft-high structure, which was praised as a pioneering green concept when it was unveiled in north London, was created to make up for the loss of open space when a new children's centre was created in a park.
But critics are now accusing Islington council of frittering away public money on a "green extravagance" using untested technology.
The wall was built in Paradise Park, Holloway, four years ago with more than 30 different plants, including strawberries, thyme and various flowering shrubs, attached to it by steel mesh.
Instead of being rooted in the ground, they were intended to thrive with their roots exposed, using a unique re-cycled watering system, which was meant to spread moisture throughout the wall along tiny pipes.
But the system failed and the wall, once lush and green, is now brown and almost completely lifeless.
Tim Newark of Islington Taxpayers' Alliance said the so-called "vertical garden" was a costly waste of money. "The architects should have worked out all the problems before it was installed," he said. "The council should not experiment with taxpayers' money.
"What about the extra tens of thousands which will no doubt be spent now trying to make it work - or getting rid of it and recladding the walls?"
Labour ward Cllr Barry Edwards claimed that when the installation went up it looked "wonderful".
"It would have been better to let someone else try it first, experience all the problems and find a solution before trying it here."
The wall was designed by Australian-born architect Deborah Saunt, tipped as a rising star of the profession.
An Islington Council spokesperson said: "The wall was the first of its type to be installed in the UK and, as with anything new, carried a certain element of risk. Of course we're disappointed that it hasn't thrived. It seems this could be down to its design and we are looking at the best way to restore it."
Reader views (7)
we had similar in west drayton road ,it also died.i dont know who paid for it probably the highway's agency ?
- Dave Boney, hayes uk
Perhaps it was cunningly designed to be directly related to the popularity of the Labour party?
- Bob, Cheam
And we're getting one of these too...whether we like it or not.
Swindon Borough Council have spoken !!!
- Bill Morrison-Bates, Swindon UK
As pretty as it may have been can somebody tell me this is a good use of a large amount of taxpayers cash ? Just which clown decided this would be a good way to spend this money. It truly beggars belief some the things that loony councils come up with to waste your money with. As I sit here reading online everyday I am happy in the knowledge that now not one penny of my hard earned wages goes to fund these idiots! I also find it incredulous that people just put up with all of this. These people are supposed to work for you remember people !!!!!!!!Get out and do something about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Thailand
Time to clean the council out.
- Trunk, US
Did they not think of constructing a prototype first, say, 10 metres x 10 metres. No, go for the grand design, after all it's only the taxpayers' money.
- Patricia, LONDON
The essence of all design is ,If it can go wrong, it will. To design something with a narrow failure margin and then leave it to a Council to run is simply unprofessional. However, I'm sure it made a nice gimmick for Councillors to be photographed in front of when it was new. Would Virginia creeper not have achieved much of the desired result?
'The wall was designed by Australian-born architect Deborah Saunt, tipped as a rising star of the profession.'
Thanks for the warning; where and for how long had this person tested this concept before claiming it was a sustainable device? Can the Council get its money back?
- Mdj E10, london uk
