First intervention

My investigation into STC’s payroll spending is moving slowly but inexorably forward, but I won’t be able to report any results until I get all the information and ask about it at a council meeting. In the meantime, I have been contacted by one of the residents of the estate by the cemetery with an unusual query.

To me, being a town councillor (in opposition to the ruling majority) means working to improve our town and inform about things that people at the helm don’t want to inform (debt, staff cost, deficit to name a few). I know I won’t change the world, and in fact, an opposition councillor has very limited ability to influence anything, therefore, even though the matter is quite trivial, I was very happy that a resident decided to contact me.

That first email from a resident landed in my inbox on Friday the 4th of June just before I left home for work (I work the night shift). The resident requested anonymity and asked me to do something about an overgrown hedge that practically blocked the entire sidewalk at Common Lane. Since Shirebrook is quite small and you never live far away from something that is in it, I went to the place on my way to work and took a picture.

As you can see in the lead photo above- the resident was right. To be honest, the photo does not fully reflect reality. In the picture, you can see a tiny bit of free sidewalk, but if you really want to walk there, the bushes growing at your waist height- force you to leave the sidewalk and enter the street. There is not the slightest possibility that two people could pass each other there safely.

Since STC spent almost 500 000 on wages I was quite sure they have someone dedicated to cut bushes. With this level of spending- probably with golden scissors. But jokes aside- I think green spaces in Shirebrook are well maintained and it is quite odd that this one is left behind and completely abandoned. It was too late to call STC, other STC councillors never pick up calls from me or reply to my e-mails so I was forced to ask around Conservative councillors in other parishes. As usual- I received a wave of answers, advice and tips on how to solve the problem.

I learned about the specific department in Derbyshire County Council responsible for up-keeping sides of the roads. Sometimes this department delegate responsibility for the upkeep of verges, trees and hedges on side of the roads to district or parish councils (so there is still the possibility that it’s STC responsibility). There is a whole website dedicated just to explain that. Read if you are not bored enough by this article: https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/transport-roads/roads-traffic/road-maintenance/grass-cutting/trees-hedges-and-grass-verges.aspx

But if you just want to report a problem with sidewalk or pathway you can contact me or just do it by yourself on this page: https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/access/rights-of-way/faqs/trees-hedges-vegetation/trees-hedges-and-vegetation.aspx

It’s a very easy to navigate page where you just choose icons representing a specific problem and point on the map where is it. It looks like that:

You can attach a photo and your contact details if you want. After submitting a report you will receive a reference number and link to the website where you can observe progress.

Further discussion with Conservative councillors revealed that the council have no right to cut private hedges. Since other hedges are maintained, one of the councillors suggested that in this case, it’s possible that the hedge is private and the relevant authority has to contact the owner and solve that problem with him. To be honest I’m not sure. Bushes are so thick that I couldn’t see what is on the other side but on Google maps its look like there is nothing so… all I can do now is to wait.

I will notify STC about the problem as well and keep eye on it until the problem is resolved. Finally, I encourage all residents to send me information about these types of problems. Even the smallest change for the better is a change in the right direction. I’m sure the council staff will have no problem correcting this type of oversight if they know about it.

Sylwester Zwierzynski info@shirebrook247.com