The owner of a Norwich pub has set up a petition to stop the closure of the Plantation Garden in Norwich.

Rose Hanison, who runs The Black Horse in Earlham Road, has set up the petition after hearing that access to the popular beauty spot could be closed off later this month.

Ms Hanison said more than 40 people had signed the petition on the bar at the pub so far, with lots more people also calling for an online petition and posting messages of support on the pub's Facebook page.

She said she has been overwhelmed with the response from people and plans to set up an online petition to save the access to the garden early next week.

'We have got to find a way to save it,' she said.

'It's a really big part of Norwich's heritage and it's volunteer run. I think it would be a real shame for it to close, and from people's reactions online I can see lots of other people think it's an important place too.'

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She said lots of people visiting the garden also came to her pub for a drink and so she knew from experience that people from all over the country visited the Plantation Garden.

As previously reported, Tony Burlingham, who runs MJB Hotels including the Plantation Hotel next to the Plantation Gardens, plans to board up the entrances to the garden on January 27 due to health and safety concerns.

It comes after a 20ft sinkhole opened up at the side of the Plantation Hotel last April.

Mr Burlingham said his decision to ban access to the gardens was due to his insurance company withdrawing its cover for subsidence at the end of the month.

While Mr Burlingham does not own the gardens, which are located off Earlham Road, he owns all of the access routes leading to it.

But Roger Connah, chairman of the Plantation Garden Preservation Trust which maintains the site, has said the trust has a permanent legal right of access and the decision to close the access could result in legal action. Meanwhile, a Norwich City Council spokesman said it was a 'very complex' issue, which would likely take time to resolve.

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The garden is to remain open as usual until January 27, and on the Plantation Garden website Mr Connah said: 'The response by so many in a few hours after the news about the intended closure of Plantation Garden is a great support to us as the trustees...We have a lease from the city council and with their help I hope to resolve this unnecessary action.'

For more information about the Plantation Garden, visit www.plantationgarden.co.uk

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