Councillors slammed for spending £7k on flowers
COUNCILLORS are splashing out thousands of pounds on flowers and plants while snubbing calls for an outdoor play area for the borough's children, it has been claimed.
Furious people living in the Preston ward have slammed Cllr Bob Blackman, Cllr Alan Mendoza and Cllr Harshadbhai Patel, alleging the trio have allocated their neighbourhood working funds on greenery instead of listening to their views.
All 21 wards in the borough are allocated £20,000 each, which should be used to improve the area and lives of residents.
But, according to Donald Soon, ward panel chairman of Preston Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), who lives in Montpelier Rise, Wembley, the councillors have rubber-stamped the plans, which will spruce up several roundabouts and a green space in Preston Road, both in Wembley, despite objections from people living in the area.
Mr Soon is enraged that while children living in flats on Hirst Crescent Estate, in North Wembley, are banned from playing on the grass outside their home, the councillors are spending £7,000 on shrubbery.
He said: "There are a lot of youths around here who have nothing to do. The money could be used on providing facilities for the youths.
"I am concerned that they are given this money and can spend it freely without consulting residents."
Mr Soon claims the trio have reneged on a promise to fund the installation of Neighbourhood Watch Group (NWG) signs in the area despite pledging to do so when the group was formed last Autumn.
While in contrast officers from Preston SNT have funded state-of-the-art alarms for the ward's most vulnerable residents and security lighting to help deter burglars, in the last few months.
Mr Soon said: "We want just two signs that cost just £200 but they won't pay for it. This just shows that they are not interested in what we have to say because their mind is made up. It's a disgrace."
Despite sending a letter to all three of his councillors, Mr Soon claims his concerns have been ignored with not one of them replying to his correspondence.
He said: "They are abusing their authority by making decisions without speaking to residents.
"To spend £7,000 on a patch of grass outside a pub and a roundabout is outrageous when there are more pressing matters.
"Something needs to be done."
Cllr Blackman, who is also the deputy leader of the council, denied that they had ignored residents' views adding that they were installing the requested signage for the NWG.
He said: "We have listened to residents concerns and always do.
"Cllr Mendoza went back to residents to explain what we are doing and why.
"We want to create the village-type atmosphere that is in other parts of the ward, which includes tidying up our roundabouts that have been neglected for many years.
"In addition to that, we are putting together a football league for youths and installing CCTV as suggested by residents.
"We are always open to suggestions."
lorraine.king@archant.co.uk
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Wembley & Kingsbury
Chronicle News |
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