Information on Loughborough

Now its the Borough Grass cutting and Parks maintenance!

Posted on 17/07/2008

flowers in Loughboroughs Queens Park

Labour councillors in Loughborough have welcomed the review of the Borough Council’s maintenance of parks and green spaces which a Cabinet report suggests are not ‘fit for purpose or value for money’.

Labour Leader, Max Hunt, says: “This year the Loughborough Special rate spiralled by 17% after an increase of 19% the previous year.  At the same time the Borough Council has fewer responsibilities and is providing a worse service.  This reports signals that the Conservative Cabinet have at last recognised this.”

He believes that when the County Highways Department took over the roundabouts and grass verges, Charnwood tax payers should have benefited, but the opposite was the case.  Quoting an example, Cllr Hunt said that the Borough Council has refused point blank to prune any trees this year unless there was a ‘health and safety’ reason.  If residents complain we are simply told there is no money.  Yet residents are now paying much more on their council tax.

The report also goes on to suggest other management options, either by the private sector or by other Districts.  Labour councillors will warn the Conservatives not to go down the County path and hand over to a contractor who does not understand the job and is ignorant of the lie of the land.