A DREAM has come true for a campaigning wheelchair-bound stroke victim with the news that a community garden is to be built in his Basingstoke neighbourhood.

George Potten beamed with delight after the council's Cabinet unanimously passed a recommendation that a grant of £15,000 be put towards a garden project for Popley.

The garden is the brainchild of 54-year-old George, who has been confined to a wheelchair for the past two years.

In a statement read by his friend Mrs Lucille Kiddy, former hospital porter Mr Potten - who has difficulty speaking - told the Cabinet: "We have, in between Dryden and Chaucer Close, a large green.

"Despite 'no ball games' signs, youths use it as a football pitch. The small children cannot play there when they are around and it is just a mud patch.

"In 1998, I had the idea of turning this square into a garden."

Mr Dryden said other residents joined him in the scheme and the Millennium Square Association was set up. The group applied for a lottery grant but was turned down.

Mr Potten, of Dryden Close, continued: "The design of the garden is to represent an octopus.

"The borders would represent the waves. The main centrepiece would have a map of the world painted on it with arms stretching out from it to represent arms around the world, signifying friendship to all. Four paths to the centre and rose beds will make up the other arms.

"Small shrubs would be planted all around and we would also have a children's garden planted by the children themselves. Much of the work and the future maintainance would be done by the residents.

"We would appreciate that you look at this proposal favourably. We can only give you an approximate cost within a budget of £15,000 and £19,000. In spite of a very hard-working committee, we have only raised about £3,000."

Backing the scheme, Councillor George Hood, Cabinet member for community well-being, said of Mr Potten: "He is an extremely brave man. I met him when we set up the Popley Forum to combat crime.

"Since then the self-esteem of the residents has increased and vandalism has dropped.

"I fully support this project as a credit to George and the other residents of Popley who fight for their corner.

"I hope when it is completed one part will be known as 'Potten's garden'."

Council leader Rob Donnelly said: "It is such a delight when local residents get together and put in so much time and money into improving their own environment.

"So often people just sit back and wait for the council or someone else to do it."

After the grant had been approved, Cllr Donnelly added: "It's difficult to go on with the next business because we have all got lumps in our throats."

Giving George's reaction to the grant, Mrs Kiddy said: "He is over the moon that the garden is at last to become a reality."