One of Monmouth’s most colourful characters has been evicted from her home.

75-year-old Gwen Rogers, who runs a stall in the Shire Hall on weekends and is known as ‘the flower lady’, returned to her home on Worcester Street on Monday 28th January, to find bailiffs, supported by the police, in the process of changing the locks on her home of 16 years.

She claims the eviction notice she was handed on Monday 28th January was the first she was made aware of the matter.

The letter, dated 8th January, said that the court has issued a warrant for the possession of the property and that she is to leave the property before the 28th January at 11am, when the eviction would take place.

“All my clothes, property and cats have been locked in the house, although they did say they would feed the cats,” Gwen told the Beacon. “I have my phone with me, but the phone charger is in the house”.

She claims that she was evicted because the place was a fire hazard. “I don’t have a fire on so how can it be a hazard, I only have the heating on half the time.”

Stephen Jones, housing officer at Monmouthshire County Council confirmed she has been offered two places to stay, one in Chepstow and one in Monmouth.

But defiant Gwen said she didn’t want the accommodation they have offered her and added she will sleep in her van in Glendower Street Car Park despite the temperatures set to plummet and with snow forecast this week.

“I have had no chance to get any legal advice, Shelter is involved but I didn’t know anything about this court order, I would have gone back and said something to them if I had known,” she added.

Monmouthshire Housing Association’s Director of Housing Communities said, regarding the property on Worcester Street: “This is a very difficult and sensitive situation, but as a social landlord Monmouthshire Housing Association have both a legal obligation and duty of care to ensure the safety of both its tenants and their neighbours, as well as the emergency services.

“We have worked closely with both Monmouthshire County Council’s Social Services and Housing Options Teams, repeatedly offering advice and support to the tenant, but despite our efforts to engage over many years, regrettably we’ve not yet been able to reach a solution.”

She added: “We always endeavour to work with our tenants to address issues that jeopardise their tenancy, and court action is our last resort and can only take place at the end of a long legal process.

“Housing Options are now working with the lady to provide suitable alternative accommodation.”