Letters to the Editor

Got something to get off your chest? If it’s not offensive, discriminatory of libellous (that means not true, or unproven) agrees with our terms of use, and makes grammatical sense, you could see it here! Send letters to editor@councilbust.com, addressed, “Dear Madam”.

Don’t forget to put your name (or alias) and the area of Southend that you live in at the end of your letter, e.g. “John from Westcliff”.

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Dear Madam,

Southend Borough Council has done it again, cutting down a mature tree without prior notice or consideration for the thoughts and feelings of local residents.

In the latest incident a mature poplar tree, which had graced the cliff top in Westcliff for perhaps 100 years, was hacked down by contractors on Thursday (27th May). The Council have claimed, in a statement after the event, that the tree in question was diseased. This may be true, however, the only proof of this now lies in the wood chip bin.

Regardless of whether the tree was diseased, once again the Council has shown its complete lack of understanding for the feelings of the people when it comes to our town’s rapidly disappearing mature trees.

SKIPP has tirelessly campaigned to save our town’s trees, and we do appreciate there are occasions where there is no alternative but to fell an individual tree which may be dangerous. However, we believe that if any mature tree is to be removed, there should be a requirement for prior notification to all residents within the immediate area, to allow anyone that wishes to challenge the felling order time to do so. Additionally, when the tree is in a particularly prominent public area, such as the cliffs, then prior notification should also be given via the local media.

If any member of the public wishes to report a missing tree please contact SKIPP via the missing trees email hotline:  missingtrees@hotmail.com

The SKIPP Committee
Patsy Link
Sheena Walker
Mark Sharp

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5th May 2010

Dear Madam,

I have really enjoyed Councilbust over the past few weeks. (Especially the last few days)

Congratulations on some excellent diverse, fair and balanced reporting and of course, for some top class investigative journalism.

Regards,

Anne Jones

23rd March 2010

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Dear Madam,

I am a boat owner who has a mooring east of the pier and have just received my annual renewal notification. In previous years the amount due has been increased roughly inline with inflation, usually around 3% and at least 4 weeks to pay. Reasonable I think.

This year however, when most of us are feeling a little less well off, my renewal notification showed a 40% increase with only 2 weeks to pay. I phoned the accounts number printed on the form and was told I would need to speak to the foreshore department which I did. I pointed out to the foreshore officer that I was basically renting a hole in the mud; I am responsible for digging the root, buying and maintaining all the tackle involved. On top of this I never see a foreshore officer when kids are jumping all over the boats or bait diggers are within the 1/4 mile exclusion. Although sympathetic to my views I was pointed towards the Resort Services Manager for answers.

At this point I stopped chasing the issue and decided that what the council are hoping for is that with such short notice for renewal that most boat owners, who have quite a large investment in setting up their moorings, will pay the increase because the council have had to provide very little for the money they receive.

For me I have removed my £300 worth of equipment, arranged for an alternative location for my boat so that instead of receiving 140% fee they actually receive a big fat zero and, as it is election year, I will also be voting for my local elected official’s closest rival.

Dane of Southend

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29th January 2010

Dear Madam,

On early Sunday morning, having had a restless night’s sleep, something was wrong and my subconscious knew it. I rushed out and down to Victoria. Surely my mind has just been playing games with me, the council could not have sent workmen in the dead of night to cut the trees down; after all we had a meeting booked with the project manager for Tuesday afternoon to discuss the situation.

How wrong I was to underestimate just how underhanded and sneaky Southend Borough Council could be. The scene that greeted me when I rounded the bend was one of absolute devastation. The chainsaw gangs had been working through the early hours of the morning and were still furiously at their dirty business, the ground was saturated with police complete with the now obligatory forward surveillance unit and there were countless hired thugs acting as the council’s private security.

As I sat there shocked and feeling helpless. Tears came to my eyes. Huge 100 year old plane trees were being feed into the chippers like old unwanted sofas. The chainsaw armed operatives were actually dancing and singing as they ripped the heart out of my town. It is hard to imagine without being there how truly awful it was hearing the noise of the chainsaws and smelling the wood burning, it was truly sickening.

Then the anger took over; how dare they do this? We may not be able to stop this now, however, we certainly weren’t going to let this happened quietly; it was time to gather my strength and call for support. Making those calls to let people know what was happening was awful. Getting my friends out of bed early on a Sunday morning with such horrendous news felt like telling them someone had died.

It is not just the 60 trees of Victoria which are threatened by our out-of-control council. A further 18 are destined to face the chainsaws at Priory Priory/Crescent; trees that were so valiantly defended for four years by the hero’s of Camp Bling. Rest assure the council will not get to slaughter these trees.

Regards,

Mark

SKIPP

Greenpeace