Stone in Bloom have withdrawn from this year’s Heart of England in Bloom competition, blaming the roadworks in Stone and a lack of support from the borough council.
Stone in Bloom have won a gold medal in the competition for the last eight years running. But a bid for a ninth will have to wait until 2016.
Stone in Bloom chairman Jill Hood said: “We are bitterly disappointed that we have had to reluctantly withdraw this year but have had road closures to part of our planned route, the partial closure of Stonefield Park and now the final straw was when Seven Trent announced works to close another part of Stone on our judging route.”
All the work that Stone in Bloom volunteers carry out around the town will continue this year, Jill says, and they’ll be going for gold again in 2016. She said: “Not only do we want to win gold but we have the will to win for our town.”
Jill thanked the borough council’s Streetscene department but hit out at the parks department over the group’s request to paint the benches in Stonefield Park. She says the group was told to pay £400 to get this done, adding: “I was flabbergasted they asked for the money, when we have just paid out over £600 from our fundraising pot to design and build a raised bed in the park. It’s just a step too far.”
Councillor Mike Smith, cabinet member for leisure at Stafford Borough Council replied: Stonefield Park is open, and we are improving facilities for youngsters in the play area which would be ready for judging day – so I’m surprised Cllr Hood appears not to have wanted this to happen. The large bench seats are due to be painted later in the year, one or two at a time to avoid inconvenience to park users however Cllr Hood wanted them all done now which would have involved us hiring a contractor at extra costs. We just informed her of this and asked for a contribution – but received no reply.
“She knows more money from the leisure budget is spent per head in Stone than in Stafford, and our maintenance regime in Victoria Park and Stonefield Park are the same – but I shouldn’t be surprised Cllr Hood tries to make out the town is the poor relation.”
1 comment
Councillor Mrs Jill Hood
Victoria Park is in my estimation magnificent! Stonefield Park is very poor the benches are in a state of disrepair , one of our members raised it with the leisure and parks department after the RHS judges made comments about the very poor state of the benches and also the trees and shrubs which are badly in need of some TLC. If you take a walk around Stonefield Park you will see that the borders around the park are overgrown with weeds. I understand this is why a new group of volunteers called friends of Stonefield Park was formed and are to work in the park. When I asked about Stone in Bloom working in collaboration with the group I was told that councillors were not welcome and as we have 7 councillors of all political persuasions as part of Stone in Bloom then it was a big NO! They then asked if they could work under our public liability insurance which was not a possibility. It would be lovely to have Stonefield Park in the same state as Victoria Park I visit there often and it is a haven for children. Councillor Smith you tell us you were born across the road from Stonefield Park it must break your heart to see what a tired old state its in. Stone in Bloom do everything in our power to make sure Stone looks good all year round but we only have limited resources. Our members are on their knees with all the hard work we put in and please have a look at the fantastic raised bed Stone in Bloom have built in the park. we shall be back next year and hope to win our 9th gold we sincerely hope you will put your hand in your pocket and sort out our park. Reference me saying we are the poor relation, yes Mike we most certainly are!