Heywood councillors hit out at council 'vandalism'

Cllr Alan McCarthy

Mature cherry trees and hedging that ran alongside the Jack Talbot Sports Centre on Starkey Street and Bamford Road in Heywood have been cut down in act described by Heywood councillors Alan McCarthy and Brain Davies as corporate vandalism.
 
North Heywood Councillor Davies brought up the issue at the Cabinet meeting of 30 May; however, the response he received was that the issue is a Heywood Township issue not a Cabinet issue.

Cllr Davies' angry response was: "The first Lib Dem cabinet of this municipal year welcomed a report on the Council's record and intentions to promote tree and shrub planting in the borough and its intention to maintain the same. I was given permission by Council Leader, Cllr Alan Taylor, to speak and in welcoming the gist of the report I asked why mature cherry trees and hedging had been ripped out of the border of the all weather playing field. This was done without the knowledge of the Environment Section at Green Lane and without consultation with the Heywood Township. To date nobody admits to doing it.

"I expected support from Cllr Taylor and the supposed environmentally friendly cabinet. My comments were dismissed as being a Heywood Township issue, this despite the report coming to the Cabinet for their approval which they gave. What will come of a Heywood Township protest if it cannot get the support of Cabinet? I can only assume therefore that the Cabinet approved of the destruction of the trees and hedges.

"If this is an example of a caring and green administration I cannot imagine what the future holds for us."

West Heywood councillor Alan McCarthy was equally angry and scathing, he said: "It appears nobody from RMBC is willing to take responsibility for this disgraceful act, but the person ultimately responsible is Lib Dem Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Wera Hobhouse.

"It appears that the Lib Dems have invented a new way of Democracy which is to make decisions first then go out to consultation. It is my understanding that consultation comes before decisions - this has simply not happened.

"The good people of Heywood and I call upon the Portfolio Holder, Wera Hobhouse, and indeed the whole of the Lib Dem Cabinet, to ensure that the necessary consultation is made prior to any future decisions."