Walsall’s labour group leader 'insulted' over delays in Covid memorial garden
The leader of Walsall’s labour group has slammed the council over the extensive delays in delivering a Covid memorial trail at the Arboretum.
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After the fifth anniversary of the pandemic passed earlier last month, councillor Matt Ward said he was ‘insulted’ that residents are still waiting for the memorial garden to be delivered.
Councillor Ward added that following the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022, two five-foot corgi statues which cost the taxpayer £35,000 were installed at the Arboretum within two years of her passing.
But he says the families of more than 1,000 people who died from covid across the borough of Walsall have been ‘forgotten about’.
In January 2022, cabinet members approved plans to create a poignant memorial garden and trail to remember Walsall people who lost their lives to covid.
The project was to provide an area for contemplation to remember lost loved ones and also recognise the services provided by all key workers.
The woodland walk would have started from the Grange car park and carried on alongside the stream amongst the trees.
More trees were to be planted as well as bluebells, snowdrops and narcissus.
As part of the trail, there were supposed to be memorial benches and trees where people could purchase little plaques to commemorate a loved one affected by the pandemic.
It is estimated that the project would have cost somewhere in the region of £30k- £50k.
The council had hoped to source external funding for the project, with capital funding plugging any shortfall.
Councillor Ward said it was insulting that residents should have to pay for a plaque.
He said: “Where were the donations for the corgis for the royal family? Why was taxpayers’ money used on that, and not representing the residents of this borough?
“They announced years ago that they were going to do this covid memorial but we still haven’t got it. I asked in September about it, but we’re no further forward.
“What I find insulting, is that the Queen passed away after this announcement, and we got the corgis done straight away as a priority.
“The residents of Walsall who have lost family have just been forgotten about.”
A spokesperson for the council, said: ‘The Covid Memorial Walkway at the Arboretum has been partially delivered.
“Phase 1 of the project was resurfacing all of the footpaths along the route of the walkway which has been completed.
“The wooden monoliths depicting the start of the trail and the posts for the memorial plaques will be carved and installed this year.”
