Liberal Democrats slam Oldham Council over weeds contractor failure – its like Day of the Triffids

Oldham’s Labour controlled Council has come under fire from Liberal Democrat opposition councillors as it emerged this that the council will be without a weed maintenance contract until at least September this year.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “It is already like Day of The Triffids in many parts of Oldham.  Shaw town centre is a good example, I dread to think what it will be like by September!”

“This is the worst possible time of year for the Council not to have a weeds contract in place.  Left unattended, weeds can block and damage footpaths, not to mention the fact that they are an eyesore, encourage litter and just make our streets look unloved.  This is the latest in a long and growing list of examples of the Labour administration failing to get the basics right.”

Councillor Sykes has written to Council chiefs demanding that the Council take some urgent temporary measures to battle the weeds, but it has fallen on deaf ears.

The Council has confirmed that no such temporary measures are currently planned. Councillor Sykes said, “It’s just not good enough, we must have the cash, and the Council thinks it is OK to do nothing until a new contract is let in September.  Then there will be a massive catch-up job to do.  Parts of our Borough will look more like jungle by then.  There should be a proactive programme to tackle these weeds instead of just waiting for complaints.  Just walk round with your eyes open and the weeds are not hard to find!  Residents really expect things like this to be taken care of and not just kicked off into the long grass.”