Cutting comments on council priorities

Oct 30 2008 by Margaret Shaw, Hamilton Advertiser

IN this time of financial crisis, and with recession imminent, South Lanarkshire Council, being urged by councillor Joe Lowe, are discussing cutting down healthy street trees in the Low Waters area of Hamilton.

After losing £7½m of taxpayers’ money in bad investments, and with the worsening economy, I am surprised the council have thousands to spare on cutting down these trees. The project would also entail resurfacing the pavements and streets and perhaps laying new drains.

Rather than felling the trees, why don’t the council follow their original plan to trim their height and overhanging branches (which has been on their agenda, and for which money was allocated earlier this year)?

Small businesses are going to the wall and hundreds of people are losing their jobs, not to mention their homes. This means more people on the dole and a heavier toll on the taxpayer.

Pensioners, when they are shopping or sitting freezing in heir homes this winter, could be doing with a few more pounds in their pockets. More school buses are also needed so that all our children can travel to and from school safe and dry. Many projects take priority over the trees in Houston Street and Scott Street, especially where the cost is concerned.

I say to South Lanarkshire Council: get your priorities right and leave the street trees standing, something that most people want in any case.

Name and address supplied.