There is no hiding the fact that residents across Croydon have suffered hugely because of Croydon Labour’s inability to balance the budget, therefore bankrupting our borough!
One of the more obvious and sad reminders of this across the borough, is the increasingly overgrown grass verges and green spaces which blights our town. The Labour Council is claiming this is because of the need to increase wildflowers across the borough, which will benefit our wildlife, such as butterflies, and of course bees! This is very disingenuous, the truth is the Council does not have the budget or means to maintain the grass as is required, due to staff and budget cutbacks, and have therefore needing to decrease the schedule of grass maintenance from an estimated four-week cycle, to now an estimated 8-10 weeks instead!
There are many examples across the country where wildflower programs are successful, you do not need to look far when you compare how Surrey County Council are managing a similar program. Croydon’s scattergun approach, with Croydon Labour hiding their poor levels of grass maintenance, as good for the environment, is not good enough. This is of course not the full truth, which has now sadly become an urgent issue in Croydon’s Crematoriums.
I was incredibly sad to learn of a case when a family went to visit their father’s graveside on father’s day, to be welcomed by the grave being almost completely submerged under the grass, the children were crying at the grave side. This situation we find ourselves in, is clearly not good enough, the Labour lead council need to act responsibly when it comes to grass maintenance across the borough, No more so than in our crematoriums!
Previously, I raised my concerns for safety with the Cabinet’s current stance, for example the increased risk of hidden glass and obstacles being accidently stood on by someone who could not clearly see their path through a park or crematorium, seeds which can get into smaller dog’s ears, the increased risk of tics being transferred from the unmaintained grass, visibility issues for vehicles and pedestrians, and of course the general unkept look negatively impacting our communities across the borough!
The balance between encouraging wildflowers for our wildlife, whilst effectively managing grass verges and green spaces, needs to be more intelligently managed by this Labour Council, because the current state of grass and verges in our parks and crematoriums across our borough is unacceptable!
I reported, together with concerned residents, and Conservative colleagues to officers, my concerns and upset with the current level of poor maintenance in Croydon’s crematoriums.
Officers have now confirmed to me the following:
- 2 additional Gm operatives will be located at Mitcham Rd cemetery to assist (temporary for 1 month).
- 3 days to address complaints on a priority basis.
- Any additional complaints will be dealt with immediately.
- 36 plots to be cleared to bring the site up to spec.
- Estimated 3 weeks to complete all the required works.
I have been promised that the recovery plan has now been implemented across the borough, with priority being given to help resolve the current issues and hazards as I addressed, with more focus being given on the general upkeep of Crematoriums in Croydon.
I will of course continue to monitor the situation.
However, if you have any concerns you wish to raise, please let me know at [email protected].
Thank you.
Cllr Scott Roche
Shadow Cabinet Member for Sustainable Croydon.
