After several years of campaigning, lobbying the local council, the London Assembly and MPs, I can announce a great breakthrough which will make an enormous difference to the tree stock in our borough.
As you know, we have been at war with Laings, the contractors chosen by our Local Authority to 'maintain' our parks, green spaces and cemeteries. In the course of their work, much damage has been done to the trees and wildlife in and around Isleworth as a result of their total lack of knowledge regarding matters ecological. Since our Local Authority abdicated all responsibility to Laings and no longer have any Tree Officers of their own, you might suppose that they would have ensured that the contractors they appointed would have their own experts. However, you would be wrong – until today!
For several years they and their sub-contractors, Continental Landscapes (more like Continental Moonscapes) have hacked and slashed their way through our parks and graveyards without any consideration for the wishes of the public but more importantly, the needs of the environment. As a result, some areas, such as All Saints Graveyard, lost most of their wildlife, with many trees hacked down or disfigured by bad pruning. The wonderful old cedar had its lower branches hacked off, and will bear the mark of this vandalism for the rest of its days.
The final straw was last week; the strimming of a small plantation of trees in a conservation area in Park Road. One of these trees was a rare Black Poplar, such as those provided to London Boroughs by the Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee.
At last, thanks to the many people who over the past months have written, called and otherwise harassed Laings, they have finally listened to reason, and appointed a qualified arborealist, Raymond Bennet, who will be responsible for managing the local trees in future, using his own team. ISCAG members met with him today at Silver Hall Park, where much damage has recently been done, in order to discuss future plans for the park and other green spaces, and we can now hope that the trees in our parks and gardens will now be safe.
However, the fight continues. The removal of trees and undergrowth on Syon Lane still reflectes the 'scorched earth' policy favoured by our Local Authority; these green corridors are vital for the well-being of the wildlife in our area, as they are the means of travel used by small animals, and the undergrowth houses nesting birds and hibernating insects.Trees on the roadsides will stillbe at the mercy of Laings, and they will do as they please with no-one to question them.
Another major issue is the use of strimmers and brushcutters, the result of which I have unfortunately seen with my own eyes, in the form of dead hedgehogs or abandoned birds' nests. Recent strimming at Silver Hall Park resulted in the death of several Moorhen chicks, killed while the parents helplessly tried to protect their nests.
No feeling being can find this acceptable; but it must be recognised that while Laings are at the forefront of this carnage, they were given a carte blanche to do so by our elected representatives. This poses a question.
Why on Earth was an organisation with no expertise in this area given the contract in the first place! By wilfully ignoring all attempts by the people they purport to represent to alert them to this problem, they show much to be desired as our 'elected representatives'.
ISCAG continues the fight, as does the newly-formed Friends of Silver Hall Park, and the Friends of St' Johns Park. We will fight until what remains of our precious green space, and the wildlife within, is safe for those who will come after us. We will protect it from the excesses of the contractors, and will oppose any further building in the conservation areas, some of which are currently under threat.
All those who have helped us – whether by fundraising, writing letters or signing petitions – earn our greatful thanks. Please continue in your efforts, join us if you can. You will be most welcome! If you wish to set up a 'Friends of...' in your area, we can help to set you on the right road.
No comments:
Post a Comment