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Town hall to weed out hanging baskets 'for sake of planet earth'
Ruth Bloomfield13.01.09
HANGING flower baskets could be banned to "preserve the planet", say council chiefs.
Harrow council believes they require too much watering and maintenance to be considered environmentally sound.
The authority is also considering pulling up traditional seasonal flower beds in its parks and gardens, and replacing them with shrubs which need less water and work.
Susan Hall, the council's deputy leader, said: "Water is one of our most valuable resources. We must not waste it.
"It is a shame because people like things like hanging baskets, but we have to carry water barrels around the borough to keep them going.
"We have hundreds of them in the town centre and we are going to have to take a view on whether that can continue." Other proposals in the council's draft climate change strategy - which will go out to consultation later this spring - include:
●Replacing traditional trees with foreign species which can cope better with dry, hot conditions.
●Allowing some sections of parks to revert to "wild areas" which need less watering and maintenance than manicured lawns and flower beds.
Ms Hall added: "Most experts do seem to think that the climate is changing, but at this stage it is reversible. I think we do need to heed these warnings.
"The other issue is that fossil fuel is going to run out, there is no doubt about it, so we have to preserve it when we can. We owe it to future generations to protect what we have."
Ms Hall said the council also needed to consider reinventing its parks.
"We need to look at bringing in trees which are far more hardy in drought situations, because of the changing climate.
"If we have got a park which is big enough then a certain amount of it will be left as grass land - no more lawnmowers spewing out diesel to trim the grass. And shrubs take less maintenance than plants like geraniums, although obviously they don't give the same colour."
The council is not proposing to dig up all its flower beds. Later this year it will launch an "adopt a bed" scheme to encourage residents to take over the care of beds in parks, using "grey" water - old bath or washing-up water - to keep them hydrated.
Reader views (32)
Ms. Hall clearly doesn't have a clue and she is probably being used. I suspect the real motive here is to spend less on gardens, so more can be spent on Councillors' pensions.
- Larry, Amsterdam, NL
As someone who just left Harrow after 10 years I can say that it had become the most concreted over burough of London and is absolutly souless. Every application to knock down a front garden was granted, dito converting Houses into multiple flats, all with attendant deletion of gardens in order to park cars. Harrow council has no vision or insight whatsoever re environmental concerns and this nonsensical approach is typical of their petty interference. I am glad we dont live there any more.
- Steve, Melbourne Australia
Life, under the Nu Labor jobsworthies is becoming pointless - a grey dull distopia, in the image of 'Gord'.
- Vision Aforethought, Oxford & London
I think the members of the council must have hit their heads on those hanging baskets before coming up with ideas like this.
- Nikos, Nicosia, CYPRUS
Hmm,
Sounds like they are going for a short-sighted solution. If they really want to think "green," then think of using rain-barrels throughout the council jurisdiction. Not only does the vegetation like it, but it would save on water use. Just another solution that is all.
- John, Chicago, USA
Good idea especially if they ban drinking at the council offices
- Johnc, London UK
What nonsense. It's Harrow Council that should be abolished to save wasting resources. Heaven help us if people in local councils have nothing better to do than dream up this sort of claptrap. Great work though if you can get a good salary and pension for it.
- Simon, Near Harrow, UK
Hanging baskets give so much pleasure to so many people. As a resident of Pinner (Harrow) I am so proud of the floral displays which enhance our lovely village. Surely enough rain water can be collected in water butts?
- Barbara B, London
There is no water shortage in the UK. We get enough rainfall each year to fulfill all our needs.
BUT ... water is wasted.
Consider all the houses in the country; electricity goes IN, is used up, more electricity has to be generated; gas goes IN, is used up, more has to be procured; same with oil. BUT with water, this goes into a house, a small amount is used up, but the largest percentage (90%) still remains. This is then wasted by putting into the sewerage system - BUT IT IS STILL WATER, albeit in a slightly dirtier state. There is no attempt whatsoever to recycle this waste water. It isn't beyond man's capabilities to purify this water and recirculate back into reservoirs for reuse.
- G Thumper, Yateley, Hants
If the broken pipes were replaced there is no problem in Britain. During the height of a drought it was said that one third of the water was leaking out of the broken pipes, Looking at the reservoir that was down to 12 ft with total of say 36 feet then 12 was missing because of leaks. If the leaks were fixed the total height of water should have been 24 feet and not at the 12 feet shown on the film. They should get the pipes fixed.
- Peter, Camberley UK
Why aren't they honest and admit that they're trying to weed out some expenditure?
- John, Bedford
They don't say whether or not the residents will get a reduction in their council tax and water rates.
- R.F.Yorks, Yorks, UK
I smell an eejit with a ponytail somewhere here...
- Martin H Watson, Teddington
Quite right, Harrow. There is more than enough green in the world. In this dark time in the economic cycle, we should stop being so frivolous and extinguish any signs of self indulgence. The councillors of Harrow seem to be proud to show how hair shirts should be worn. Any chance of a cut in the Rates next year, do you think?
- Coylum, Vancouver, Canada
Couldn't have anything to do with the money they'll save with all these low maintenance options I suppose.....have to fund that pension somehow!
- Mark, London
Whats next? Everyday I read the London papers online. I subscribe to British Heiritage,Realm, and In Britain...Fir st the talk of removing the phone boxes, or replacing the doubledecker buses, and then some other idiot wants to get rid of the Markets. What is to become of London, the most beautiful City in the world. Just keep discarding all of these lovely cultural treasures, and soon you'll look just like Los Angeles...and who wants to go there?? Please stop with this nonsense, and treasure the wonderful city you are lucky enough to call home. There is always another way around replacement and abandonment!!!
- Susan Seifert, Bismarck,N.D. USA
What lies to justify the actions they take will these useless councils dream up next? No one is taken in. Everyone knows they'd rather put any surplus cash into their own pockets (aided by Brown) than spend it on watering flowers in baskets which give pleasure to so many.
- Judith C, London, England
Thames Water loses over a million gallons of water per day. If we really care about saving water in this sodden land, how about we start there?
- Hazlitt, London
How strange - Ealing has just installed hanging baskets the length of Northfield Avenue!
- Deborah, London
Is this what they sit around and think up in Harrow town hall meetings? A town that has become a crime hotspot after dark and a binge drinking mecca for teens. More pc garbage that is useless to society and the public.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
Good thing too. How many times have you nearly knocked yourself out banging your head against a hanging basket.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex
Has anyone heard of water butts? Put them on park buildings and use for watering. I am sure some sort of reservoir can be attached to lamp posts with a drip feed for hanging baskets. Maybe councils should also stop paving over areas and stop peoplepaving over front gardens so water can be absorbed in to the ground and replenish the water table rather than cause flooding. Flower beds can be planted with drought resistant flowers and still be changed seasonally. This is just someone trying to be clever and looking stupid.
- Kbash, London
Can't anyone see the only way to save the planet (if you think it's really necessary) is to stop banging out kids by the score.Two is more than enough.No more child allowance after the second.
This is aimed at the poorer families who rely on that additional income to survive.Pathetic!
- Steve, London
Nu Labor go away!! Is this about political correctness again is it??
- Peteo, London, NW1
Of course being an Island we're bound to run out of water sooner or later. That probably explans why small greek Islands use hoses on their plants everyday, have thousands of extra visitors to their Islands every year, who have two showers a day. In other words, they can't be bothered to do the work, or have squandered the money on something else.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
Planet? Cash Save!
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
putting in trees that can cope with drought is a good idea after the 2 wettest summers on record!
- Ian, Midlands,England
can you comment on it?
- Linda, italy
This is just an excuse to save money on services, masked by the inevitable argument of "it's for the good of the planet".
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Oxygen is quite a valuable resource also, could the PC rabble please stop breathing?
- Frank, Home Counties, England
Another town hall muppett from the sound of it, where on earth do they get these people?
- P I Staker, London
In other words, a councillor who is using the bogus Enviro argument as a way of shirking their responsibility to keep parks and gardens tidy. A few years ago Harrow sacked nearly all their gardeners. As a result the roadside verges and park areas became overgrown and a haven for rubbish. The clear up cost more than the expected savings.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
