Residents in Barry have been left devastated after the council forced them to remove the community garden they've had for nearly three years. Residents of Elm Grove created a "community space" outside one of their homes in the summer of 2020 but have now had to remove the artificial grass, seats, plants and fairy lights that were put there after receiving a letter from the council asking them to remove it due to complaints from other residents.
From Jubilee celebrations to teas with the Mayor, the neighbours at Elm Grove and in the surrounding community gathered at the community space to celebrate many occasions over the last three years. The community space was originally set up during the Covid-19 pandemic by six of the residents to provide a safe space for them to connect, as many of them were faced with loneliness.
One resident Julie, a nurse, regularly checked the health of her neighbours and kept them safe. She told WalesOnline: "It's a real shame that it had to be removed. We have many fond memories there." Residents say regular Covid-safe check-ups kept the elderly residents' minds at ease and helped them feel less isolated during the pandemic.
