The words from the song ‘I didn’t promise you a rose garden’ ring true in Nailsea where the weeds in the Millennium Park are taller than the flowers.

And these aren't the only weed(s) to be found in the town centre park.

People living near to the neglected rose garden want the area to be tidied for the summer.

The green space is owned and maintained by North Somerset Council but in the past few years has had is tales of woe from rat infestation to rubbish, from vandalism to the use of illegal substances.

But mostly it is a well-used public area enjoyed by people of all ages and interests.

The rose garden has been there from before the turn of the century when it was called Scotch Horn Park.

Nailsea Town Council paid for the floral planting to provide a peaceful, scented place especially for the elderly and those partially sighted.

Millennium Park is the end of the official cycle route to Bristol and field activities include Friday nights fun youth activities organised by the police neighbourhood team supported by @thegym - see Gallery 2019 for photos - and it is the home ground for many a sports team.

The skatepark is well used and it has been hosting successful free skate school sessions for primary aged children for the holidays.

And the park is next to a leisure centre with gym, changing facilities, café and conference rooms as well as a main hall which serves as a function room and theatre.

As we go into another long school summer holiday the zip wire next to the winding tower remains broken but the young people are able to enjoy the playground, youth shelter and skatepark although it is an uphill struggle to keep park structures free of graffiti and the litter bins emptied.

However, the biggest challenge at this moment is sorting the rose garden which has had thousands of pounds spent on it since 2017.

Nailsea Town Council chairman Jan Barber said: “Everyone seems to be complaining about this. 

“There was a sum of £6-7,000 of section 106 planning gain money from the Sapphire Lodge elderly people’s apartments which was spent on sorting out the trees, seating, some pruning and planting red hot pokers. 

"When it was done it looked good but unfortunately nothing seems to have happened about maintenance. 

“When it was brought up at town council it was suggested volunteers should do it but as you are fully aware it is the same few people who work hard in the town for Nailsea in Bloom and Trendlewood Park. 

"It would be nice to have properly trained and paid for gardeners. 

“Councillor Jo Hopkinson has arranged for some students from Nailsea School to weed the plot.

"They will be supervised and people living in Scotch Horn Way have offered to provide refreshments.

“We are trying to deal with this, but it is all very disappointing so far.”

However, some who live in homes neighbouring the park disagree that after spending thousands on the rose garden it looked good.

One said: “I don't think my wife and I would agree that the rose garden ‘looked good’ after the work.

“The fencing had been sorted and the damaged seats replaced but the central bed still looked a mess. 

“They cut down some very nice trees including a Redwood.

“We very rarely see gardeners working on the rose garden. 

“It is such a shame as there are people who enjoy sitting there to eat their lunch or have a break on their way home from the shops.

“I know people in our road pick up large amounts of litter otherwise the garden would be submerged in it.”

The skate park which was spruced up for the annual festival has had another coat of anti-graffiti paint after the would-be street artists left more naïve artwork and tags.

Junior potheads also left 'evidence' of illegal smoking activities and someone had defaced the green benches bought and newly installed by the Nailsea Town Council..

Christian Surfers director Phil Williams went in armed with a paint brush and covered up the offending scribblings before the summer skatepark school started.

And another neighbour got out a broom and cleared the youth shelter of broken glass and one public spirited youngster picked up much of the discarded rubbish.

Skatepark manager Neil Wylie believes most of the damage is caused by young people who live outside Nailsea and haven’t had the same