Stroud District Council’s longest serving tenant representative has retired after almost 30 years’ service

Volunteer Sue Griffiths’ work on behalf of council tenants was celebrated by fellow tenant representatives, officers and the Chair of Housing Committee at a tea party held to mark her retirement from public service.

While a resident of Stroud District Council-owned Nouncells Cross estate in the 1990’s, Sue became a founder member of resident association Middle of the Hill, and was instrumental in converting a disused area into a community room which was used for computer literacy workshops and tenant meetings, later steering the group to raise the funds necessary to make the room more accessible.

She later became chair of the former Tenants & Residents Forum which represented tenants at the council’s Housing Committee, judged a tenants’ garden competition and sat on the editorial panel of a tenants’ newsletter.

Cllr Mattie Ross, Chair of Housing Committee read out a poem written by former tenant rep Roy Haines, entitled `Sue Griffiths a True Volunteer’ and chronicled Sue’s achievements over the years.

She then presented Sue with a bouquet of flowers and gift voucher, saying:

“I’d like to thank Sue on behalf of the many council officers, elected members and tenants for her years of hard work for the benefit of others.

The Council Plan pledges to provide more opportunities for resident involvement in housing decisions, and we continue our commitment to build on resident involvement opportunities.”

Building on Sue’s legacy, the current residents’ group, Middle of the Hill recently refurbished the patio area outside the community group, created a community garden and opened a food hub which gives away surplus food from supermarkets and cafes to those on low incomes. Residents of Nouncells Cross, Middle Street, Bisley Old Road and Summer Street can find out more about the group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MHCGStroud/

To support Middle of the Hill Community Group through the Lucky Severn community lottery, with a weekly chance of winning a prize including a £25,000 jackpot, visit https://www.luckysevernlottery.co.uk/support/middle-of-the-hill-community-group