Friday 6 March 2015

LARKS WITH THE PARKS

Lofty Ideas

The Mayor of Grotty Cash is a big bloke...

Some people think he's tree fellers.

Well he isn't, he's just one. But some of his mates are.

Like the ones who want to chop down 27 mature trees in a conservation area within Sefton Park to build a so-called executive housing estate.

There is no escaping the fact that the city is in a perilous financial situation as a result of brutal and disproportionate cut imposed by the Conservative-Lib Dem  Coalition. But the Mayor's argument used to justify selling off parts of the city's Victorian park land for short term gain, just doesn't hold water. (unlike the individual £3,500 taps fitted to the sinks in his new offices) 
 
The park land in Sefton Park, Walton Hall Park, Woolton Woods and Calderstones belongs to the people of the city. It is not something an elected mayor should have the right to sell, particularly when we were denied the right to say if we wanted an elected Mayor in the first place.

I have no doubt of the pain the councillors are going through in setting a budget when faced with such an ideological onslaught but the selling off of Park Land does not benefit the city nor the people. It only benefits the developers, who can't wait to get their hands on prime land and who let the acres of brown field sites sit as waste ground.

People are angry about scale of the cuts and often unfairly blame the council, who are in a catch 22 situation. But they also want to hold them to account when they feel strongly about particular issues or  see examples of what they think may be wasted money.

So it doesn't help when anyone questioning the actions of the Mayor or indeed raising any questions seem to be dismissed, shouted down, ridiculed or instantly blocked on social media.

I know he has a lot on his shoulders, and fine pair of shoulders they are. He should show 'em off.

But it's enough to make you want to burst into song.  Sing Lofty.
 
 
 
 
 


TATTY BYE EVERYBODY, TATTY BYE!
 
Be Nice To Each Other