Please stop with the chainsaws

On Thursday, February 9, I heard that chilling sound of chainsaws again.

I feel which ever council thinks it ‘necessary’ to continue to fell, lop, cut and prune the greenery in and around our town is simply chainsaw happy.

All I see is the removal and destruction of trees and shrubs; they put it down to disease, but not everything is that way.

I drove along Mill Lane recently, and on the allotment side, what was there had been hacked at and not a lot was left.

I know you cannot prune the vast amounts of shrubs as you would in your garden, with care, but there was no care or consideration here. Also, What has happened on the edge of Priory Park as it meets Huntingdon Road?

It is heart breaking. That strip of woodland used to be full, green and beautiful, but with continuous felling and no re-planting, it is sad, and not the beautiful welcome as you drive into town.

I think it is easier for the council, not to have to continue to spend money on yearly pruning etc, so just eliminate the problem, by chopping it all down! It really is a case of ‘boys with their toys’: they are far too quick to get the chainsaws out.

The flip side is my question: just where is the planting of new trees, shrubs, greenery etc? 

Last year was the Queen's Jubilee, and we, as a nation, were encouraged to plant trees.

She wanted this as her legacy. Councils were told to encourage everyone to get out and plant, but just what happened in St Neots?.

It saddens me to see perfectly healthy trees either removed or pruned to within an inch of their lives, yet we have all these now open spaces to plant things, yet no planting is being done.

The ideal time to plant is between October and the end of March. Every clear space, every verge and roundabout, every edge of paths and pavements, quite simply, every available space needs trees and beautiful shrubs planted on it.

Other towns and councils have done it, so why not us? I know  trees take years to mature, but many shrubs take just a few and quite simply, if we don’t start now, what a dreary and grey place our town will be.

It is becoming that way now, so let’s stop that rot and get planting. And don’t get me started on the benefits to nature.

Please stop with the chainsaws and make our town a green and pleasant place again.

S Critcher

St Neots 

 

Disappointment at election mug-slinging 

I was disappointed to read on social media the 'mud slinging ' against a candidate for the Eatons by-election which takes place on Februrary 16 by other county council councillors.

This can only start a war which won't be to the benefit of the residents of St Neots.

They should be voting on the basis of. who they think will serve them best, and not on the basis of who recommends who, or what flag they canvas under.

Remember just because you may win the first battle, it doesn't mean you you win the war.

Bill Hodges 

Eynesbury, St Neots 

 

Why the year-long speed limit?

 

I thought you may be interested in a slightly comical exchange I have had with various authorities about the A1307.

I contacted Highways England to ask what is the safety issue causing a temporary speed limit to be in place from just before the Godmanchester junction where the permanent speed limits signs are in place near the exit to the ring-road.

I believe this to have been in place for more than a year with no evidence of the required safety work being done. I also suggested that starting the speed limit immediately after the Godmanchester exit instead of 150m before may make more sense

I receive a reply to say it was no longer one of Highways England's road but is now looked after by Cambridge County Council.

I then contacted the council who told me it was Highways England

I then sent same email to both enquiring which of them were responsible, copying in both the replies I got

Highways England came back and said it was theirs and apologised.

I asked what the safety issue was and was told: “The temporary speed limit is in place because the safety barriers along this section of road are coming to the end of their serviceable life and may no longer be able to contain an errant vehicle travelling at normal speeds.

"Until the safety barriers can be replaced, we have reduced the speed limit for safety reasons."  

Safety barrier replacement is likely to be carried out by Cambridgeshire County Council after they become the new highway authority for the A1307 next spring. 

I then forwarded the above to CCC so there was no confusion and also asked the Highways Agency if it was normal practice to leave a safety repair so long and expect those taking over the road to do something about it and they said CCC are aware.

Net result is the temporary speed limit could be in place for some time to come!!

Babs Moore

By Email