AN Ely garden has received a prestigious environmental award, in the same week that councillors set regulations to allow street traders in the area. The Green Flag award was given to Jubilee Gardens which run down from Broad Street to the River Ouse, fo

AN Ely garden has received a prestigious environmental award, in the same week that councillors set regulations to allow street traders in the area.

The Green Flag award was given to Jubilee Gardens which run down from Broad Street to the River Ouse, for the fourth year in a row.

Liz Wainwright, from the Friends of Jubilee Gardens, said: "I am worried that allowing traders will affect next year's Green Flag award. The original decision to was not well thought through. They hadn't done any research or consulted us on what was needed there."

Each time a trader applies for a licence, the police, residents' groups and the Friends of Jubilee Gardens will be contacted for their thoughts, and the council's licensing committee will have the final say.

Ms Wainwright welcomed the decision to consult her organisation: "I do think that they have started to listen to our views but I would like to know what prompted them to make the decision in the first place."

Councillor Tony Parramint, who chair's the licensing committee, said: "We had a very detailed discussion at committee about the policy, to ensure it meets our needs to control the type and standard of traders who would be accepted on the gardens. It is very important to us that we protect the award-winning gardens for everyone who uses it. The last thing anyone wants to do is wreck Jubilee Gardens as it is an area of peace and tranquillity in our city."

Jubilee Gardens were opened in 2002 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Free summer music concerts take place every Saturday on the gardens and it is the venue for many of the city's top events, such as Aquafest and Eel Day.

The winners will go to Liverpool next week to pick up their flags.

In order to win a Green Flag award, the rules state that: "For aesthetic as well as health and safety reasons, issues of cleanliness and maintenance must be adequately addressed; in particular, litter and other waste management issues must be adequately addressed.

A policy on litter, vandalism and maintenance should be in place and regularly reviewed."

Friends of Jubilee Gardens will try and persuade the council to reverse its trading policy after a six-month review period.

Patricia Simmonds, Wendy Powel, James Coppola, Sylvia Coppola, Alison Eaden-Eadon, John Eaden-Eadon, Sheila Friend-Smith, John Butterfield and Shane Godfrey from East Cambridgeshire District Council celebrate winning the Green Flag Award.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE. 5188HD0708