Council quoted £35k to plant daffodils next to main road

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Halifax Road roundabout

Councillors say they have been left in disbelief after being quoted over £35,000 to plant daffodils along a number of grass verges.

The latest meeting of the Pennines Township Committee heard a number of bids for funding, but one in particular saw some councillors raise their eyebrows. Following a request from council officer Tracey Knight and Councillor Amna Mir, a plan to plant daffodils to spruce up Halifax Road was priced up.

For a total of 10 different plots where planting would take place, staffing costs, traffic management and operational costs added up to an eye watering £35,568.

Given the Pennines Township, like the other four townships, has around £37,000 to spend each year on local projects – this plan would have taken up more than 90 per cent of their budget for the entire year, the meeting on 17 September heard.

The grass verges that would see the daffodils planted are focussed in and around the roundabout where Halifax Road meets Albert Royds Street. Councillors were told how the foliage on the roundabout could no longer be maintained by contractors because it is ‘too dangerous’ for workers to be there whilst traffic is flowing.

Councillor John Blundell described the state of the roundabout at the junction as “a disgrace”. However the Smallbridge and Firgrove ward representative believed the cost was far too much for the township to consider.

Councillor John Taylor added: “I think we should spend money on road safety rather than on flowers. It’s the icing on the cake, but planting flowers is not what you do first.”

Councillor Taylor suggested that flowers that spring for around a month are not cost-effective compared to other projects they could fund and have a longer lasting effect. All the councillors were unanimous in their thoughts that the astronomical cost was too much.

Councillor Andy Kelly brought the room back on track after a number of councillors chipped in with their opinions on the matter. He told the meeting room in Number One Riverside building: “We’ve spent 20 minutes talking about spending £35k on flower bulbs – which is over 90 per cent of our annual budget. We’re not doing it, let’s move on!”

The committee went on to approve a request for funds for the The Johnny Alfrey Music Memorial (JAMM). Johnny's mother Julie Alfrey was there with his father Chris as they requested township funds to help boost their festival named in honour of their son who died in June 2022. 

Although they didn’t get the entire pot of money they were bidding for – the pair did go away with £5,500 for their community interest company JAMM. The project provides free rehearsal space and use of sound equipment and instruments to five young local bands, something they want to grow.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter