Month: February 2024

I moved into my current home in 1986, and one of the primary selling points for me was the green space at the front.

This green space, owned by the local council, had two large, over 80ft,  mature Beech Trees, a mature Yew, and a number of other trees.

Under the trees, there was a grassy area maintained by Havant Borough Council (HBC).

The council employees would turn to several times a year to cut the grass and generally keep the area tidy.

So pleasant was this area that children used to gather in the shade of the trees, to play and on occasion picnic. Our own children and grandchildren used to play there too.

Over the years, the nature of this green space has changed. One of the great Beeches got sick and had to be taken down. Some branches on the remaining Beech had become so long and heavy that they had to be cut off lest they break under their own weight and cause catastrophic damage to the main trunk. All the tree surgery managed by HBC.

Unfortunately, while the standard of tree care has been exemplary, the same can not be said of general care of the area.

The open area has become a bit of a wilderness, with brambles taking over to such an extent that they are encroaching on the driveway shared by me and my neighbours.

In fact, the overspill of the brambles is such that some of our ubiquitous couriers have refused to drive down to make their deliveries.

My neighbours and I have contacted the council in the past, and someone has come along and cut back the undergrowth. But they, the HBC, are reactive, not proactive.

In fact, after I had complained, one of the workers, clearly disgruntled at having to come back after a less than satisfactory grass cutting session, took it upon himself to inform me that he had been in the job for twenty plus years and that they had never maintained this area.

I pointed out that the council workers used to ride their sit on mowers in circles around the trees. The same trees that are hidden behind the wild scrub and brambles, which now prevents access by the mowers.

The untamed undergrowth has brought with it another undesirable activity. People have used the bushes directly in front of my neighbours living room as an impromptu toilet. Standing, urinating while staring directly into her lounge.

And, then there is the footpath that subdivides the open area, which is nearly always covered in detritus from the trees. Leaves, twigs, and beech mast all combine to make the path albut unusable. At night time it can be quite dangerous. More so since the new street lights have been installed. They may well be less light polluting, but the nearest light has little or no effect on illuminating this pathway.

So there in a nutshell, is my personal view on the deteriorating standard of upkeep by HBC.

It’s a shame that HBC doesn’t seem to want to reduce my council tax in line with the reduced services.