A councillor has said he is at a loss as to why vandals have cut down a number of sapling trees planted to improve the look of a Blackwood housing estate.
Labour’s Cllr Roy Saralis, who represents the Penmaen ward, was informed by Caerphilly County Borough Council ground staff that eight foot-high saplings which had been planted at the Woodfieldside estate had been cut at their stems.
Cllr Saralis said: “This is a deliberate act of mindless vandalism.
“I can’t understand why anyone would want to do something like that. The trees were cut through and left standing, so no-one could tell the difference until one was knocked when the grass was being cut.
“This was obviously done at night, and not by a child, because it’s a tough job to get through the base of the trees.
“They were planted as a feature to help lift the estate.”
My sympathy to Cllr. Saralis – this kind of vandalism is far too common these days in areas where public money is spent. The idea is worthy, spend in poor areas to give a lift to people. Unfortunately it is rarely appreciated, there is an element that does not care about where they live, has no intention of finding work and takes a grim pride in living in a barren place so that they can moan about heir ‘deprivation’.
In case anyone wants to accuse me of elitism, I spent the first 20 years of my life on a council estate and today frequently work for less than the minimum wage. Why not spend money in areas where people appreciate and look after the improvements? Or is that a bit too radical for these politically correct times where being a victim is the height of fashion?
It would also help if we moved away from the Response style Policing we have and restored regular police patrols in our communities – this would not only be a deterrent but it would also improve the chances of the perpetrators being caught in the act.
Having said that,there can be no excuse for this behaviour,which is actually criminal damage.
I agree that when efforts are made to improve an area there are always a minority hellbent on wrecking things – but you can bet that these louts are also quick to moan when their council tax bill increases ( which inevitably happens ).