PEOPLE have reacted with sadness at news that Highdown Nursery and Sugarloaf Tea Rooms at Iverley has closed after a five-year legal battle with a neighbour over use of a driveway.

The family business which has been built up over 35 years has closed with immediate effect.

A long-running and costly legal dispute with neighbour Pamela Mills, which ended up in the High Court, over the track used to access the nursery and the more recently added popular tearooms, built in 2016-17, has been blamed for the demise of the business which the late Philip Partridge, who died in 2018, had built up with wife Lyn, daughter Esther and son Chris.

In a post on their Facebook page, the Partridges said it was with "great sadness and disappointment" that both the nursery and tearooms were closing and they added: "We have found ourselves in the position where we can no longer afford the insurmountable costs involved to continue

“This has resulted in the closure of the businesses.

“In turn this has very regrettably resulted in 40 members of staff now redundant and a family business that started from scratch 35 years ago, closed. We feel great sadness for our staff, (some of which have been with us for 20 years) who have worked tirelessly and very loyally to help the business grow.

“We would like to thank all our very loyal customers who have supported us over the years and hope our customers will respect what has been a very difficult family decision.”

People across Stourbridge has been left heartbroken at the news and a Go Fund Me page was launched last weekend to try to raise money for the family to try to overturn the decision.

But the family have since urged people not to donate to the fund – saying: “We have been made aware that a Go Fund Me page has been set up. This was done very kindly and with good intentions by a member of the public, but without our prior knowledge.

“We need to make it clear that a judgement has been made and the tearooms, and subsequently the nursery will never be saved.

“Everything is now in the hands of the receivers and out of our control.”

They said they would be taking legal advice to determine what should be done about the donations already pledged after more than £4,000 was given within hours and they added: “As grateful as we are we encourage people not to make any further donations until it is absolutely clear what the money can be intended for.

“We would also like to make it clear that we do not wish for a hate campaign against our neighbours.

“We have made numerous attempts with the claimant to reach a settlement but have clearly been unsuccessful in reaching a mutual agreement.

“This has been a very long, arduous and expensive legal battle for both parties and coupled with other outstanding debts - we are in the unfortunate position where we are unable to continue trading. This is very sad all round.”

Stourbridge businesswoman Abi Hamilton said she was "so sorry" to hear of the closure- adding: " We loved visiting at any time of year."

Stourbridge photographer Bob Mantom said it had been a family tradition to buy a Christmas tree from the nursery and he added: "Will miss visiting."

Community champion David Herrington, of Stourbridge arts group Gig Caritas, said: "Highdown Nursery is much-loved in this town and surrounding areas."

Wollaston mum Rachel Griffiths said it was "really sad news" and she would miss the "fabulous tearoom" and Stourbridge administrator Rachel Cook said: "I’m absolutely gutted for everyone that’s lost their livelihoods. I loved coming to the nursery and the tea rooms."

Highdown fan Joan Perry described the decision to close as "just the worst, most shocking news possible" and Stourbridge resident Rob Hall said he'd "loved going to the nursery and tearoom".

Stourbridge resident and community stalwart Anne Palmer said: "This is such sad news. Highdown has been a part of my life for so many years. I used to walk from Worcester Street and pile my plants onto a bike which I would push back. Always one of my favourite walks. Used to wish there was a coffee shop and a loo and then lo and behold years later there was. Christmas trees and the Christmas shop just added more delight.

"This family business has achieved so much over the years, it is awful that this should happen."

The legal battle, which looks to have cost the Partridges their family home as well as their business, was lost after Judge Simon Barker QC, sitting as Deputy High Court Judge, determined the Partridge family, their staff, customers and visitors did not have a right of way over the track to visit the tea room or nursery for non agricultural purposes and that therefore the complainant, Pamela Mills, was entitled to a remedy.

The family have been unable to afford the extensive court costs and say they have had no choice but to cease trading and declare bankruptcy.