Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[john shipton]

Once upon a time road sweepers were once employed by Lincoln City Council and each had tasks to do when sweeping the roads. They made a good job in sweeping the gutters and people recognised them in their yellow tabards, brooms and the carts they pushed around. They were a friendly bunch of workers and often said hello to people on their rounds. Their work was constant in the city of Lincoln. Good stuff!
City council too once employed folk who cut the grass verges on a regular basis. Well done!
At least there was co-ordination in the work that was carried out.
But accountants and business consultants had this bright idea of replacing them saying privitisation was the way forward and would save the tax payer money which could be spent elsewhere on other essential services for the community.
This idea began to flurrish and became the norm. Consultancy firms looked at public services such as public transport and cleaning staff at hospitals which could be privitised in the pretence of saving money.
Those in authority thought that all of this was marvelous and was the future ahead in regards who pays for what, how and reducing tax payers money - what a fantastic idea for change where privitising would take the lead!
Well, what a shamble this has become. Just look at the NHS, public transport of today, and most things which have been swallowed up by foreign utility companies where enormous profits are running into billions of pounds, including huge bonuses being paid out to their company directors, all at the expence of the tax payer.
Something has gone terribly wrong on the yellow brick road to so-called prosperity?
Now residents on nearby Albion Crescent and Albion Grove noticed on Monday morning that a mechanical road sweeper had swept most of the gutters clean, the first time this year. Brilliant and a round of applause to Lincoln City Council! But not much done last year because of budget cuts.
About half an hour later, workers came to cut the grass verges.
It is believed that both were done by the same private company - yet to be confirmed.
However, the grass cuttings were left on the pavements and in the gutters and still remain todate and won't be swept up. One resident took the matter seriously and who ever took the call at City Hall did not think much about what had happened during Monday morning. And neither did the private company involved.
So why clean the area that day only to leave a mess later and nothing to be done until the next schedule to do the same things later on (if money is available) in 2008.
Does not make any sense.
This is tax payers money that is being spent and on what? Just wasteful!
The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.
The last laugh and a smile will be on the face of one local resident. They sent photographs of what happened that day with a covering letter to the Lincolnshire Echo to publish.
Well done in providing this evidence!

[iggy]

its alright for some we dont have road sweepers on st George's because they can not get over the speed humps
I'm sure they are getting bigger as the top one on manrico is big it is like climbing a mountain

[john shipton]

Well done Peggy for writing her letter to the Lincolnshire Echo this week. Surely an embarrassment for Lincoln City Council for not listening and taking action.
Local residents are on the ball again - well done!

WASTEFUL - Lincolnshire Echo 16th May 2008

On Monday, May 12, at 9.30am the council road sweeper came into Albion Close in Lincoln and swept the gutters clean.
At 10.05am the grass cutters appeared and cut the grass verges.
Surely someone has got this wrong, and this isn't the first time it has happened.
The photo I took is proof of the problem.
It's the way the council works...
Or I am going to be told this is Cory's way?
Come on, let's have some sense/
What a waste of time and money!

MRS P. OGDEN
Albion Close, Lincoln.

There was a photograph which she took published along side of her letter showing the gutters covered in grass cuttings.