Forum Topic

Outrageous waste of council tax money

I was horrified this monring to see National grid workmen who are replacing gas mains in Corringway/Hanger Green, rip out a year-old new tree from outside my office window and dump it in a skip. When challenged the workmen said "Do you think we would do this without permission?  Don't worry the council will be replacing the tree".  If it wasn't chopped up and dumped - it wouldn't need replacing just replanting!  I talked to Ealing Council's Trees Manager and he was surprised also and said it would be investigated.  And he told me it costs £300 to plant a new tree!  This money could be so better used elsewhere for more vital services! I been angry to see so many times, perfectly good "community planting" being dug up every season and replaced - what a waste of money!!!!!  I know I could be accused of trying to do someone out of a job, but surely the planting of more sustainable and longer-lasting shrubs and bushes would be a better use of council funds, especially when budgets and jobs are having to be cut all over the place?  I am livid....... and this website's editor and the BBC local news have been contacted.

Natasha Manganaro ● 4905d14 Comments

Re  practice of digging up and replacing perfectly good plants           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx            apart from which a tree in particular is a living thing, and may be more sentient than is generally believed. I can remember, and may well have kept a video of, a programme on TV  many years ago  proving that trees are not just dumb  things stuck in the ground. There  was a long line of  these particular trees and which were being attacked one by one by  some insects I think they were that settled en mass on a tree and devoured all the leaves. The first tree thus attacked sent a signal somehow to the next and which in turn did the same, so the warning was passed on  to trees which were able to galvanise themselves in time and  excrete some form of sticky liquid onto their leaves which the insects  would not eat. Work out the implications of that. Plus experiments  made in separate labs in which  some plants were plunged into boiling water and plants in other labs were much disturbed. So the Council may be tossing aside more than is realised.

Tony Price ● 4899d

I can't give specific examples of trees but having driven past Haven Green roundabout on my way home from work for almost 13 years now, I have seen council gardening contractors replacing perfectly good plants here seasonally, which I have let lie.  I also have a friend whose husband works as a gardener for another unnamed council - and has told me that their garden is now full of lovely growing plants that had been earmarked for disposal.  She now calls her garden her Rehab Centre for Ex-Council Plants.

Natasha Manganaro ● 4899d

Sorry Natasha I missed all the other examples of trees being dug up unnecessarily by the Council necessitating money being spent where it doesn't need to be.  Can you give us details of these?

Nigel Williams ● 4899d

Problem is that despite National Grid saying that they will replace this particular tree in Hanger Green, which is very noble of them, there is a much wider problem here as this practice of digging up and replacing perfectly good plants happens all over Ealing borough and no doubt other councils around the UK.  I have seen them do it.  It may not be a headline grabber but I do think it is important that all areas of council spending, however small, is challenged as it is our money they are spending/wasting.  I would rather they bought books for our schools etc.

Natasha Manganaro ● 4899d

So the title of this thread should be "No outrageous waste of council tax money".  Hmm... doesn't sound so interesting now.

Nigel Williams ● 4899d

Well done, hang in there and let's see if the 'wider media' pick this up.

Nigel Brooks ● 4899d

Thanks to the Editor of this esteemed website for highlighting this to the non-forum readers.  Lets hope that National Grid will NOT be charging the council for the replacement of said tree (althought I wouldn't put it past them.... and the council for paying up!) Now just waiting for BBC Inside Out to investigate.  I am not letting this one go!ThanksIncensed of Ealing!

Natasha Manganaro ● 4899d

I like this post a lot.We cannot trust the council to police our money correctly so we have to do it.

Bud Richards ● 4904d

Re    Was it Section 106 money garnered from          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  I don't know Eric. Are you saying the entire pavement  renewal which runs the full length of the front of the Town Hall and beyond has been paid for by others and not the Council. If so, jolly good.

Tony Price ● 4904d

Town Hall Pavement? Was it Section 106 money garnered from  St George for LBE allowing them to build luxury flats for purchase by international millionaires at Dickens Yard?

Eric Alan Leach ● 4904d

Re  especially when budgets and jobs are having to be cut all over           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    Money gets wasted in many ways by Ealing Council, even now. That the whole ultra wide pavement area in front of the Town Hall was replaced struck me as a waste of money, seemed perfectly alright before? Must  have cost a fortune?.

Tony Price ● 4904d

Great post, Natasha!

Ben Owen ● 4905d

Let's see how long we wait for that to happen!

Natasha Manganaro ● 4905d

Good for you.There's no excuse to rip-out a perfectly good tree.I think the Council should bill National Grid, who have so far failed to fill in a hole on Boston Road for two weeks putting a busy bus stop out of action, for the FULL cost of reinstatement.Let's see if the media pick this one up.

Nigel Brooks ● 4905d