Waltham Forest, big on envirocrime (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Blogs RSS Feed

Waltham Forest, big on envirocrime

5:35pm Friday 4th September 2009

By Janet Wright »

Waltham Forest council has discovered the environment, heaven be praised. Are they composting market waste, expanding the recycling service or even using the fleet of electric vehicles they bought years ago? No – they’re threatening to fine people who ‘damage’ trees by pinning up lost-pet adverts.

Still, the council is sure to support the genuinely green efforts of Blackhorse Action Group, whose Harvest Celebration this Saturday includes apple pressing, composting and making plans for a community garden. Isn’t it? No, you guessed again – the council’s impressively titled ‘head of enforcement environment and regeneration’ has threatened BAG with legal action for advertising this innocent local event on nearby trees.

Can this be the same Waltham Forest council that cuts down trees to save the cost of maintaining them (see www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/4544163.WALTHAMSTOW__Family_s_anger_at_tree_felling/)?

The same council that dumps the mountain of compostable waste it collects from Walthamstow market into landfill?

The same council that tries to build on playing fields (see www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/4517743.LEYTON__Council_will_not_build_on_sports_ground) – the ones it hasn’t sold off?

The same council that launched a consultation this summer about the long-vacant arcade site, which many people hoped to see used as a park – but paved it over even before the end of the consultation period?

The same Waltham Forest where streets have been left unswept till dead rats block the gutters, where library books are sent to the incinerator and public buildings blaze with light all night long?

Yes to all the above. You or I might sympathise with anyone missing their animal companion enough to offer a reward for its safe return. But to Waltham Forest, they’re committing ‘envirocrime’. Though it won’t fund basic services, it can afford to send enforcers round to the grieving pet-owners’ homes.

As BAG points out, the council brutally cuts back our trees during their growing season – to save the expense of cleaning up leaves in autumn? – and some of them are now suffering fungal infections. Instead of issuing threats about harmless drawing pins, the council would do more to protect our trees by simply not assaulting them.

• Blackhorse Action Group Harvest Celebration, Douglas Eyre playing fields, Saturday 5 September, 12 noon to 3.30pm. www.blackhorseactiongroup.org.uk

Comments(6)

Copper Mill says...
10:04pm Sun 13 Sep 09

I can understand the reasoning for not wanting our trees or streets festooned with posters - no matter who they are for or what they are promoting. Did you actually go out and see how many of these were put up - i suspect not. Let me tell you then - an awful lot and they made our streets look like a flyposters paradise. If groups or individuals want to put adverts up then get permission first so that we do not have the debacle of residents complaining about something that makes our streets look worst than ever. For your information if you google the lost parrot you will see just how much publicity this parrot has already had so why do we need tons of posters too!!!!