The Saga of Crosby Village’s Christmas Tree
Recently the local Labour Councillors proudly announced that they were arranging for a real 26 feet tall Christmas tree be planted prominently in the Village and remain all year-round.
Whilst it’s the season of goodwill, we don’t for one moment imagine that this was paid for out of Labour party funds. Whilst the Councillors have not told us how much this is costing or its source of funding we imagine they are spending the community’s S106 money and Area Committee budget for this green venture. Who from the local community was consulted about this idea or was it a whim of the 9 Labour Councillors responsible for Crosby Village?
Local Conservatives strongly support a sustainable green agenda for Sefton and planting new trees is to be welcomed, especially at a time when this Labour Council has allowed so much green space and trees to be uprooted to build new housing.
And where is the tree to be planted? In the newly paved area outside Boots the Chemist. This would mean digging up a portion of the paving which the Councillors organised, using S106 funding.
Councillor Roche, writing on Facebook on 20th November reported:
We have a 26 foot living Christmas tree from this year. We had hoped to plant it in the centre of the newly paved area. The contractor said that it would be unwise as there has been a road there for centuries and the soil will be too impacted to sustain growth. They think there is a substantial layer of tarmac, cobble etc under there. The decision has been made to locate the tree temporarily in the usual space and then move it after Christmas until a permanent location can be identified, as central as possible. Much of the previous festoon lighting has been repaired and will be on between 15:00 and 01:00 every day from the 24th. It's going in at 9:00 tomorrow, tall but a bit scrawny . It'll fill out by next year.
Well, there’s a surprise. How could they have forgotten that Liverpool Road and Moor Lane used to be busy roads before they were paved over? Did they not consider that there might be gas mains, electricity cables, sewers under this hard surface? These are Councillors who are supposed to be familiar with their territory.
Did the Councillors first seek the advice of the Council’s Green Sefton team of experts and the highways department before committing to this venture, or is this their own initiative?
It now appears that there will be a cost of planting, removing and then re-planting the tree, at what cost to the ratepayers and at what damage to the tree? And who will maintain this tree, ensure it is fertilised, watered and trimmed. Who will sweep up the needles when they fall? Is there a budget for this maintenance work? Remember the hanging baskets on lamp-posts on College Road? They looked lovely for a week then dried up through lack of maintenance. Sefton Labour Council do not have a good record of maintaining trees in public areas – the magnificent weeping willow at Manor Road springs to mind.
Have the Councillors considered an alternative site for this living tree? Perhaps a more appropriate spot would be in the commemorative war memorial bed near the Moor Lane roundabout where it would be more visible and help create a focal point for the Village.
Regrettably this saga typifies Labour’s approach to issues in Sefton. They are very quick to spend other people’s money without first thinking through the consequences and how the assets will be maintained.