Walsall Arboretum volunteers set for crunch cuts meeting
A crunch meeting will be held next week over plans to axe jobs at Walsall Arboretum.
Volunteers at Walsall’s flagship park are expected to be out in force at the meeting as they bid to save dedicated staff.
Walsall Arboretum User Group (WAUG) hopes to convince local authority bosses to drop a planned staff restructure which could see the removal of the posts of parks manager and marketing and activities co-ordinator.
In April, the authority announced it was reorganising its public health lifestyle contracts, sports and leisure development and clean and green teams to make almost £400,000 worth of savings with changes due to come into effect on August 1.
But the announcement provoked protests from WAUG members who were concerned about the impact the decision could have on the arboretum.
They staged a placard-waving protest outside the council house ahead of a cabinet meeting in May and handed in a 2,200 named petition.
The size of that petition meant the issue will be discussed at full council on Monday night.
WAUG hopes the authority will decide to ask cabinet to review the proposal and have urged members to turn out in large numbers to show the strength of feeling.
The group has been distributing leaflets highlighting the work the arboretum team does including organising the free summer programme, music and shows, charity events, sports and fitness activities as well as decorating the park with poppies during remembrance.
The leaflet said: “Walsall Council will debate the 2,000-plus petition to save the dedicated Walsall Arboretum Team, including the manager and events co-ordinator.
“A vote will be taken from all the elected councillors, and we very much hope that the council cabinet will be asked to review the planned removal of the current ‘on-site, fully in charge of it all’ team.
“We will meet at the council house at 5.45pm, so, arboretum users of all kinds, please come along; the elected councillors will be much more likely to hear our case with open minds if a lot of locals are there.”
At May’s cabinet meeting, Walsall Council leader Mike Bird assured the volunteers present that members were on their side.
He said: “This was an officer decision and none of my members had anything to do with this. But we do now and it will be debated at full council.
“It is important that members have the actual facts on why it was done, what it will mean and to address the issue of what you want to achieve.
“We are not the enemies here, we are your friends so don’t make us your enemies. We are on the same same side here.
“I value the work the user group does and we are all aware the arboretum is the jewel in the crown. It is an excellent facility.”
