2 December (Part 2) - Wood you believe it? Trees lopped
“The
council appreciates that trees are important in enhancing the borough - and that
they bring with them a sense of well-being and happiness for many residents.”
That’s what Bexley council says on its website and few would disagree.
There are a lot of things that enhance a borough apart from trees.
Grants for heritage sites, provision of libraries and cultural venues, community events, parks and children’s
playgrounds all add to the quality of life in the borough.
In Bexley all those things have either gone already
without asking for public comment or will be gone just as soon
as the council has said the consultation process has confirmed the wisdom of their proposals,
Bexley’s consultations are usually a farce. A little over 1% participation is
about as good as it gets and as a local trader said to me yesterday when I
encouraged him to take part, “What’s the point they’ll do it all anyway”.
The council’s Twitter announcement about consulting on a reduction in the number
of councillors may prove it’s all a sham since they have
already asked the
Boundary Commission “to instigate the start of the process”. Dressing up an
increase in the level of parking fines as a saving illustrates the dishonesty at
the heart of Bexley council.
To return to trees for a moment, you may be surprised to hear that despite the
fact that Bexley council claims to appreciate the value of trees, it has already
agreed, as a matter of policy, not to plant any more - with one proviso.
If you
dig into your own pocket to the tune of £230 Bexley council will plant a
tree just for you. The days when a council would see enhancing the borough as their
responsibility have apparently gone. There is very little left which Bexley
council does do, apart from appointing a Deputy Chief Executive and six paid
Scrutiny Vice Chairmen of course.