More trees would give us green shoots
YOU could be forgiven for thinking cock-ups like the debacle of “unmapped utilities” blocking treeplantings were occasional, were it not for the missed opportunities to plant, plant, and plant again that we have seen from the council over the years.
Come the Commonwealth Games and tatty buildings were wrapped to hide their reproach. Was anything actually done to grasp the chance? I think especially of the bank island opposite the Apollo at the junction of Brunswick Street and Stockport Road.
Eventually it was demolished and a little wildlife took over behind the hoardings, but hey, there’s a “development opportunity” so we’ve had a modern (and so far underused) “development” imposed on what could have been an oasis of green.
When green space further down the Stockport Road opposite the library was ripped up for a mini bus station, more trees were promised following local complaints and councillors were anxious to assert more would be planted locally to compensate. And then it turns out that the purpose of the rip-up was not to cut traffic flow but facilitate more of it – as if we needed that in our city!
Well, perhaps I’m unobservant, but I’ve not seen them or heard the fanfare. So my question is where and when?
There are lots of brownfield sites around where old streets were demolished years ago – look at Hyde Road and New Bank Street. There are some trees on Princess Parkway, but many more could be planted.
And now news of the demolitions in the Northern Quarter once more show what sort of city the council is permitting, if not imposing. Who really calls the shots in terms of our environment? If the council claim to, where is their ambition?
Concerned, via email
Don’t be fobbed off
MANCHESTER City Council, in its latest attempt to seem like it is dealing with the issues which will affect young people’s futures, has established a ‘youth shadow executive.’
The article by Niall Griffiths, (Youngsters get say on town hall issues, M.E.N., August 28)
is silent on the cost of this, and on whether there will also be “youth backbench councillors,” who can be ignored by this shadow executive. This, after all, would be in keeping with how the elected backbench councillors are so regularly ignored by the 10 member executive of the council.
Obviously, I wish the youth members luck. I would also ‘oldsplain’ the following – they may learn some real lessons about how power and democracy are done in this city by asking questions about how climate action is (not) delivered and not scrutinised in this city and then refusing to be fobbed off with blandishments.
Marc Hudson, Moss Side
Why rush to the office?
REGARDING our leader’s latest campaign to encourage people to return to work, or risk losing their jobs.
Does that include everybody? For example, all of our democratically elected MPs, not forgetting Johnson’s ‘dream team’ cabinet ?
It would be quite something and arguably, a jolly great motivational incentive for us plebs, to see ‘our superiors and betters,’ in a fully attended House of Commons,(for a change) and leading by example even though, as hundreds of thousands of conscientious men and women have gallantly and indisputably proven, that they can work from home – and safely, too.
So what is the pompous windbag basing his views on?
And why aren’t the scientists telling him to ‘shut up,’?
This virus, this pandemic, in this form will pass, so why rush things? On a scientific/health basis,why now?
I have to say and I’m no fan, but Nicola Sturgeon is doing a far better job leading her country through Covid, than Johnson is here. Far better.
R Snowdon, Bolton
The end of appoinments?
HAVE we seen the last of the doctor’s surgery? Now you phone up for a phone call back, which could take five to 10 days. Then you will have to book an appointment or are told to see the pharmacist .
Is this going to put more pressure on A&E? This seems to be the end of seeing your doctor and getting to know each other. Where is this going to end?
It can’t be good for old people. You may not always need to see the doctor but you are not given many options.
This has got to be a backwards step. Very sad.
Name and address supplied
Could it end in World War?
SO it was a ‘rogue mutant algorithm’ that cocked this years ‘A’ level results up?
It reminded me of telling my mum, when I was a kid, that a naughty elf had created the mess in my bedroom.
It caused untold worry and concern to thousands and thousands of hard-working students who were let down once again by this government. Yet another excuse to further Dominic Cummings plans to dismantle the Civil service... with anyone carrying the can except the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and the education minister, Gavin Williamson... these two, of course, were the real culprits!.
But it made me think. What if a similar ‘rogue mutant algorithm’ had been let lose in the Ministry of Defence? Could it have been possible that the message it sent out was for the Prime Minister to press the nuclear button thus resulting in the start of World War III? Just a thought!
Colin Morrison,Whitefield