The ‘Firmstone Court’ meeting was called to discuss a number of local issues, including that of the controversy surrounding the potential closure of the communal garden at Firmstone Court.
The garden in Wollaston has become an unofficial memorial garden over the years for 83-year-old Anne West has been lovingly tending to the garden, financing it herself since 2016 after the death of her beloved husband, John.
At the meeting on Tuesday, September 16, the Stourbridge Lion Lib Dem team supported Anne in her efforts to protect the garden and the special place it holds in the hearts of many people in the community, with Councillor Andrew Tromans also in attendance.
Anne has planted flower beds, created a circle in the middle of the lawn, introduced colourful plants and established borders in the garden
However, Mr Tromans appeared to leave feeling disappointed by the one hour meeting, describing it as being ‘poorly chaired’ and ‘repeatedly descending into chaos.’
He also suggested that ‘personal grievances between residents were allowed to boil over’, and that not enough time was allotted to the issues.
Cllr Tromans added: “Precious little was achieved at the meeting apart from upsetting residents further. No decisions have been made about the garden at Firmstone Court, but I did observe plenty of slanging matches not only between tenants at Firmstone Court but also between council officers and residents.
“The meeting had all the of decorum of a five-year old’s birthday party after the sweets had handed out. This cannot be allowed to happen again.”
The meeting’s agenda. Photo: Councillor Andrew Tromans
Dudley Council, which owns the garden, is considering making the changes as it is claiming “no one has been maintaining it”, despite Anne’s efforts for almost a decade.
Anne has planted flower beds, created a circle in the middle of the lawn, introduced colourful plants and established borders in the garden.
There are also two benches in the garden, one donated by Anne herself in memory of her late husband and the other by Wollaston Paper Shop.
Dudley Council are proposing to ‘grass over’ the entire area in order to then maintain it themselves.
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