Council under pressure to cut long grass left to grow at sites across Stoke-on-Trent

“Sheep in the cemetaries too by the look of it. Many rural churches use this method of keeping the grass down.”

“A Council can be judged by the way it cares for its assets, performance indices in modern parlance.

Stoke excels in the way it abuses its heritage, unless of course the ever present threat of investors are spotted on the horizon, then like Barons of old out comes the red carpet, the receptions, the discussions and of course the obligatory troughs, oft seen hanging around Councillors necks like medals of honour, awaiting the latest refill.

Coming back to the abuse of heritage, most of the green spaces that are now neglected were created as a result of the regeneration of pit banks and marl holes. Now we have not useful areas for the enjoyment of the residents but pleasing natural areas that some twit has decided that it attracts wildlife. Well, there is credence in this theory, but having visited Tunstall this morning I am at a loss as to what sort of wildlife will make use of the hanging gardens on the Market Hall, or Town Hall and Library.

Wildlife needs ground in which to burrow etc to exist on these vast savannah`s that same twit has created around the City, some inclusive of gravestones. Hartshill Cemetery the Chapel there is a grade 2 listed building, without a roof that has collapsed, the bypass around Hanley with lovely shrub-beds can be seen at night moving, the wildlife is present, even the local Owls avoid that vermin, and as for wildlife destruction, how many geese have we shot???

Its a false economy not to maintain these areas, and its also time that the Council actually honoured some of the commitments to the City`s Open Spaces that it has reneged on, that is of course having pocketed the cash, such as the Festival park, the jungle that was created, the woodland walks etc can hardly be called woodland, you were given monies to instigate a thinning programme, following the planting of rare and expensive trees, which trough swallowed that grant up.

As for a Chief Executive that cares, well trees don't grow in the surf, neither do Marl Holes, **** tips, or Pit Banks, by comparison Van der Laughing Stocks Surf City in Devon from whence he came is gorgeous, and when are you going back there???? Surfs up!!!”

“One area of open space in Tunstall has been cut, thoroughly and completely today. Let's hope this is the start of the council cutting all areas of open space, and I don't mean just as the final cut of the season either Mr Craig Howell of Stoke-on-Trent City Council..”

“This is the worst Labour Council I have ever seen.

Bought and paid for by an office clerk in Sandwell, West midlands.”

“@truestokie says: "Could not agree more with all the comments on here.
This shows the feelings of tax-payers against the tax-imposers.
They want to provide no services but have the same money from the tax-payers.
Who voted this bunch of jackboot thugs in?"

The electorate voted in a Labour majority in Terry that's who.

And let's look at the alternatives shall we?

a) The Tories - The enemy of the common people and the squeezed middle. Let us not forget that this ConDem government is passing on billions of pounds worth of cuts to local authorities which is forcing local councils to pass on the cuts to you and me. And before Terry or his new bessie mate Elsby say that it was all Labour's fault, remember the global financial meltdown? Labour were not in power in the USA and the rest of mainland Europe.

b) The Libdems - Wiped out of the council chamber in 2011 and why? Because the betrayed every person who voted for them on their election manifesto promises of cutting tuition fees only to see them play a huge part in trebling them. That's just one example of their deception, there are many more.

c) The City independents? Lost all their credibility when they joined a coalition with the Tories to run the council and guess what? They cut, cut, cut and claimed that they had no choice as difficult decisions had to be made. They then went into a 4way coalition so that their former leader could cling on to some power. The CIG were instrumental in the biggest cuts during 2010. They have opportunities to call in contentious decisions like CBD but haven't so far are they really the public saviours?
They claim to be 'independent' - but independent of who/what?

What Terry wants to do is to brain wash you into turning to his beloved far right - yes the BNP. Let us not forget that their current leader is in court this very day facing charges of incitement. Just what did the BNP ever do for this city? Their record was judged and voted on by the people of this great city. The result? They are without representation in the council chamber and have lost their most hardened supporter in Steve Batkin.

You keep trying Terry, one day you'll find out that the folk of this city aren't as thick as you think they are.”

“living wage ??? what is that ?”

“SCFC4EVA - living wage anyone?”

“god forbid the locals would all chip in with some volunteer work and help clean a few of those places up every now and then !!
community spirit anyone ?”

“Could not agree more with all the comments on here.
This shows the feelings of tax-payers against the tax-imposers.
They want to provide no services but have the same money from the tax-payers.
Who voted this bunch of jackboot thugs in?”

“Well, well want a laughing stock this City Council is becoming. On one hand tells us that it wants investment in the city, then goes and dashes everything for the sake of trying to save a few pounds, how short sighted. In the long run it will lose millions. What business would ever want to come to a rundown unkempt City like this? Verges, open spaces, and parks, cemeteries, hedges and trees etc, all neglected and making the city look disowned. Does this city council honestly believe any entrepreneur would want to come here, it look that though no one cares.

City Council note we the tax payers all care, this is where we live not in some snooty mansion on the outskirt villages.

This is also double standards, how can the city council tell its housing tenants to maintain their gardens when it cannot even get its own house in order.

It looks like this council is letting the grass row under its feet, rumor has it that a herd of elephants were last seen in the long grass making their way to the Civic Centre.”