Last month wrote a letter to North Somerset Council’s Exec member about the many, many complaints I received over the summer about Council trees, bushes and hedges being left to overgrow in such a way they affect local peoples’ properties or public paths. I hope it addresses local concerns fully and makes a difference going forwards. As always, please let me know what you think.
————
I am increasingly concerned about the number of residents who are contacting me to complain about overgrown trees and bushes around my ward of North Worle. Furthermore, I am saddened that when things reach such an extent that they are affecting residents’ properties, the Council’s response is either incredibly slow (years in some cases) or simply an unwillingness to help at all.
Just a few examples:· I had a resident contact me who needed to pay a professional to clear their gutters almost monthly due to so many leaves falling from a huge tree on Council land. No help by the Council was offered.· I had a resident who had stinging nettles growing uncontrollably under their fence. No help was offered, instead they were advised to pay a gardener. I find this incredibly unfair, keeping in mind the nettles grew from Council land and will grow back under their fence.· I have one resident who has Council bushes/trees growing almost 3 times the height of their fence and reaching at least a couple of feet into it. No help was offered, they were advised to do it themselves or contact a gardener.· I had a resident contact me about a tree that has been left for so long, that it has caused enough damage to their brick wall that the wall must now be replaced. The Council did place the tree on the Council’s list to be removed… 2 years ago. I’m told it’s still a long way from being done, so far in fact that a date could not be given to me. This is hugely disappointing, when you consider the wall is at risk of coming down and the resident is unable to do any repair work until the Council has removed the tree.
More generally, we have many areas in North Worle around the River and on the approach to Wick St. Lawrence where the paths simply aren’t being maintained. Councillors have listened to many stories from residents who have been cycling and caught by thorns, I personally cut my forehead running not too long ago, and there was a child who came off a scooter due to greenery growing so extensively through cracks in the pathing. Additionally, I have multiple cases involving forgotten about ‘cut throughs’ that are shrinking in size and becoming dangerous to those who try to squeeze through them.
I would like to recommend that the Council reviews how it responds to complaints received from residents about trees and bushes that are growing in such a way it affects local peoples’ properties. I think the Council should take far more seriously complaints that state trees and bushes on Council land are growing in such a way that obstructs light, damages fencing, populates gardens, fills guttering, etc. Some of the residents contacting me are in their 80s and unable to battle the overgrowth themselves. Others cannot afford to pay a gardener to do the work for them. Regardless, they shouldn’t have to. I would also ask the Council to work with our contractors to draw up a maintenance schedule that is proactive, as opposed to reactive. As things stand, it seems Residents/Councillors need to complain multiple times until the Council will commit resources to brambles growing over paths, etc.
I would just finish by saying that having met Officers in the relevant departments, I place no blame for the way of things on them. Instead, I think the Council’s budgets, contracts and policies in these areas need looking at. Understandably, local people paying their Council Tax are asking why the areas surrounding their homes and paths/green spaces in North Worle are being forgotten about. I hope you can reassure me and residents living in Worle that the Council will make looking after our residents’ homes and paths a priority going forward.