Residents kept in the dark about hedge-cutting service, say Wokingham Lib Dems

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 1st Aug 2008

Liberal Democrats were furious when Wokingham Tories axed the hedge-cutting service to elderly and disabled tenants earlier this year. Following pressure from Lib Dem councillors, the Council reinstated the service to a number of tenants whose hedges overhang roads and pavements and which seriously impede traffic and pedestrians.

Councillor Dee Tomlin (Lib Dem councillor for Twyford ward) said, "We were delighted when the Council decided to reinstate this service to some of our tenants. But I have just discovered that the Council has not told the tenants concerned of this reinstatement, although this decision was made in early June. This is unbelievably sloppy.

"I know of one elderly Twyford tenant who has forked out £120 of her winter fuel savings to pay for hedge-cutting because the Council forgot to tell her that they would do it for her. She is very frail and couldn't possibly carry out the work herself, and she was very upset that she had to find the money to pay for the work. I am asking the Council to give her the £120 and an apology.

"Since bringing this case to the Council's attention, I gather that a letter will soon be going out to the tenants concerned telling them that the Council will cut their hedges in future."