Local councillor Jill Whitehead wrote in today’s Sutton Borough Guardian (6th February 2014:-

Doing their bit:- Alan and Jill planting bulbs (picture taken by Hamish)

Surely Mr. “X” must know that trees are very important to many residents in the borough. Sutton has a larger number of trees than most other London Boroughs and our residents are very proud to live in a green and attractive environment.

As a direct response to residents’ requests, the council is planting 400 new street trees and 200 new blossom trees in parks.

It has also won £43,000 from The Mayor of London’s Trees Fund to plant an additional 200 street trees on top of this, and £3,000 to plant 90 extra trees in Cheam Park.

As Mr. “X” will be aware, we have been experiencing a prolonged and unprecedented period of wet and windy weather, which resulted in later leaf fall than usual following the St Jude’s day storm in October. Each year, the Council deploys additional teams of staff and mechanical sweepers in the autumn and priority is given to streets with a higher number of trees and therefore higher leaf fall.

As the bad weather is still with us, we are continuing to deploy emergency teams to deal with fallen trees and flooding incidents. The Council removed over 60 fallen street trees over the Christmas period, and our staff worked hard to clear roadways and paths.

Priority has been given to health and safety, clearing areas prone to both flooding and heavy footfall, and focusing on areas close to schools, medical centres and residential homes for the elderly. Since 2008 the Council has supplied local residents across the borough with clear plastic sacks, so they can clear and remove leaf fall from outside their property.

This service has grown in popularity with many residents keen to assist the Council and their local community. For the leafing period in 2013, over 3,000 sacks were delivered to 155 properties across the borough.

Many Sutton residents are very eager to help out in their local community and this initiative will only grow and expand in the coming years as people want to help and improve the area where they live.

Instead of complaining Mr. “X”, perhaps you’d like to roll up your sleeves and do your bit? We have more sacks available.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, Sutton Council is Chairman of Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee.

Residents and Carshalton Central ward councillors (and others) bulb planting in Benhill Rec