Last updated at 12:50, Friday, 26 October 2012

Some shrub and flower beds could be removed in Allerdale in order to make savings.

Allerdale council’s ground maintenance partner ISS Waterers has been asked to make 15 per cent of savings on the price of its contract with the council.

One of its suggestions is to remove some flower and shrub beds which cost £24,000 to maintain a year.

Allerdale council has spoken to groups in Workington, Keswick and Cockermouth about the possible removal of flower beds and shrubs and plans to talk to the county council next week.

Some beds could be adopted by other organisations or sponsored by local businesses.

The removal will be Allerdale wide but a council spokeswoman said that there were no specific figures or lists as to how many removals would take place or their location. Therefore, the council was unable to provide a figure for how much would be saved.

At a meeting of Cockermouth Town Council last Wednesday, councillors said they would be against any removal of flower or shrub beds.

Town clerk Sheila Brown said the council could talk to organisations such as Riversmeet, Spadework and the Rotary Club about taking some of the beds as well as people who run a gardening project at Hames Hall in Cockermouth.

Kirsten Mawby, parks and open spaces officer for Allerdale council, said interest had already been shown in taking over a flower bed in Lamplugh Road. Coun Sam Standage suggested putting money into the town’s council tax precept to allow the council to take on some of the beds. Coun Alan Smith said he supported taking on some of the beds.

It was agreed that Ms Mawby would get a cost for the maintenance of beds in Cockermouth and the council could work out where to make savings.

First published at 11:49, Friday, 26 October 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk