TO the Mortimer Crescent Estate where tenants’ plants and flowerpots were removed by the council before Christmas.

Resident Greg Radcliffe told me about the experience of discovering “little pink stickers saying ‘please move me’ ” on his walkway display.

“I thought the stickers were very patronising”, he said.

“Then they came a day early when no one was ready.

“And we were never told you could keep them if they were in metal pots. Had they explained there were fire-safe alternatives, people could have done something about it.

“The whole thing, it felt almost like bullying, a very draconian approach.”

The removal of estate plant pots, going on across Camden, is based on orders from the London Fire Brigade.

Tenant safety is obviously of the utmost importance.

But it is the manner in which the removals have taken place that is getting people’s goat.

Fatima, who does a huge amount helping out on the estate, talked about how an Uber driver’s bike was taken during the clearances without a note being left – and never seen again.

For many people, the loss of their block’s garden display has been traumatic.

We have already reported on a grieving widow who had to watch on as her late husband’s floral display was unceremoniously dumped in the back of a truck.

Then there was a nine-time Camden in Bloom winner

with terminal cancer who also had to dismantle it in the final months of her life.

The changes are disproportionately affecting people on low or uncertain incomes, who can’t afford to pay to replace flammable plastic plant pots.

Council estates can be very beautiful places. It is so important for mental health to have a bit of green on them. How about a plant pot bank or fund to help people who can’t afford to make the switch?

Housing chief Meric Apak said: “We want to achieve the highest standard of fire safety in our residents’ housing – and we need our residents’ help to ensure areas like balconies remain tidy and free from combustible items.

“However, providing the area is safe, we take a pragmatic approach and plants can remain in earthenware or metal containers, providing they are not causing obstruction – in this case, we will arrange to visit the resident to discuss the situation and see what can stay and what will need to be removed if not safe.”