At yesterday’s Places Overview and Scrutiny meeting the really big question
was weeds. Why are so many shooting up from every kerb stone that is. It was the
first question from a Councillor and they were still discussing the pesky things
twenty two minutes later, albeit with a brief divergence into that other roadside
nuisance, the House of Multiple Occupation. (“The occupants tend not to take
responsibility for waste. People just do not care.”)
Councillor Slaughter “wished the weeds weren’t there”, residents complained
about them and they are worse now than ever. Councillor Davey said that
residents complained about weeds when he was out doorstepping.
They were told that weed killer is applied three times a year, exactly where was not specified. The first dose was
completed on 11th April and a second application was begun on 9th June. Weeds
are removed mechanically once dead but not before. Country Style operatives
“do not have the strength” to pull out green weeds by hand.
The third application of weed killer will start on 26th August
and continue for six
weeks. Councillor Gower asked when we could expect to see the end of them and
some were so longstanding that they were beginning to destroy the footpaths. The
Council officer carefully added six weeks to 26th August abd came up with 8th
October. Then after a significant pause managed to add 14 (the time it takes for
them to die) to eight and make 22. 22nd October that is. Thank goodness for
clock watching dandelions.
Obviously the survey that said that Bexley residents are almost
the most unhappiest in the country is a load of old tosh. Their biggest gripe is weeds.