What a bunch of Plums

[steveL]

Read it and believe it.....

**HARTLEPOOL COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE**

Community orchard plan for estate

A COMMUNITY orchard is set to enhance the local environment on a Hartlepool estate.

The orchard, which will include a number of mature apple, plum and pear trees, is to be planted on land to the west of Masefield Road at Rift House within the Manor House ward.

The project is being spearheaded by the three Manor House ward councillors – Councillor Stephen Akers-Belcher, Councillor Marjorie James and Councillor Allan Barclay – in partnership with the Rift House Community Action Team (CAT), a local voluntary organisation.

It took a major step forward this week when Hartlepool Council's Neighbourhood Services Policy Committee pledged its support.

Councillor Akers-Belcher said: "The orchard will strengthen community involvement and provide a focal point for the local community to learn about and participate in looking after and nurturing the local environment. It will also help us to promote healthier lifestyles by providing fresh fruit for use within the local community.

Councillor James who is Chair of the Neighbourhood Services Policy Committee, said: "The orchard is a real community effort and it will complement the meadowing and wild flower planting scheme that has already been carried out nearby."

Councillor Barclay who is Vice-Chair of the Neighbourhood Services Policy Committee, added: "I am delighted the scheme is moving ahead. It is set to be a real community asset and will, I am sure, have a very positive impact on the estate."

Funding to create the orchard has been secured through a legal agreement with the developer of a housing scheme in Eskdale Road on the estate.

Planting of the trees is due to take place this autumn/winter.

Press release pr26081. August 11 2015.
Issued by Steve Hilton, Public Relations Officer, on (01429) 284065.

[lynda]

Ive never heard of such utter rubbish, don't  these idiots live in the real world. Im glad to say im no longer a resident of Manor House. Those trees will be pulled down before they even get a chance to grow. FRUITLOOPS

[DRiddle]

I can't be the only one visualising an image of a certain someone snoring away beneath one of the apple trees, 'recuperating' after one to many 'refreshments'.

Maybe someone will get hit on the head by an apple like Isaac Newton, but instead of discovering gravity, the bump causes them to remember who was on the board of MRA.

[The Great Dictator]

It will be destroyed by the child scum on the estate within 6 weeks, what planet do these people live on ?

[lynda]

Not one of them lives in Manor House. Get out there and see how bad its becoming. I had good feedback when selling my house, they loved the house not the location. That reflected on its value. But sometimes money isn't  everything, peace of mind is. And planting fooking fruit trees is the last thing it needs

[Hartlepudlion]

Ah! But it has nothing to do with any sort of practicalities or gentrifying the area but all about next May's elections and SAB. What's the betting that the trees will be planted to be in blossom just before the elections. Another triumph for Labour's electioneering.

The same thing in Foggy. Anderson's bakery protest was hijacked by Cranny to aid his re-election. And now it's being used in CAB's quote from CAB "it will be purchased by the council and converted into two dwellings regardless of cost." No expense spared of taxpayers money when it can be used to benefit the mob.

Note: the planting of fruit trees in public places, especially roads, is an old ploy of Stalin's to keep the Proletariat happy. He even allowed them to pick the fruit for free as long as it was for immediate personal consumption but not for commercialisation as this would make it a Capitalist policy. I wonder if mad dog will issue a similar edict! Mind you, knowing them they will probably sell licences and personally profit. Could be another job for SAB.

[Inspector Knacker]

The trees will be planted....if they survive, they will be pillaged. If by any remote chance they manage to produce s crop, nah, can't see that happening.

[lynda]

Well they'll have plenty of manure, that will solve the dog fouling problem, and if that fails the three of them are full of b......t

[Land Phil]

So why not a community orchard in all wards, we all pay the same council tax ?

[veggismiennicht]

Has some one done risk assessment what if someone gets a piece of fruit dropped on head eurkea let sue  thats the gravity of the situation

[The Great Dictator]

To be fair Phil, most wards have had trees but most get uprooted within a year by these little sh*ts.

Have a drive round West Park and see 40 years of greenery, its where children are taught respect and manners.

[Johnny Bongo]

Are they planning to build a 3 metre high fence around this orchard? Having wrote that, let's have a reality check here....certain people (in Manor and all the other 'problem' areas in Hartlepool) probably don't know what fresh fruit looks or tastes like....so if it's not in a takeaway, they'll not be interested!  Plus, if they have a high BMI (ok,I'll say it...overweight, fat, obese, etc) they're not likely to be climbing fruit trees, are they!  Finally, serious question....is it normal or practical or even possible to plant MATURE fruit trees? At what age are they considered mature.  Do 'they' dig up a large tree (without damaging the roots) and replant it, without any stress to the tree?     

[Inspector Knacker]

In a time when we hear councillors go on and on about cuts, where is the funding coming from to pay for what appears to be a vanity project. ?
The over used 'c' word,  is drragged out blinking into the glare of small town politicianns needs as yet another ill conceifed ' community'  project is touted about, Another hybrid offspring of desperate publicity seeking politicos and unfeasible , impractical fantasist shemes.

[DRiddle]

On a serious note, most regular contributors to this forum know there's usually more to these kind of things than meets the eye with the mob. 

Despite austerity there's seems to be various pots of money available for establishing and maintaining orchards, allotments, community green spaces and such like.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11466/1973262.pdf

A quick read through this document above gives the game away on this one.

Once established (even if it's established by a local authority), community groups can take over the running and maintenance of the orchard.

Ultimately the department for communities and local government will provide on going funding for it.

I sense an 'orchard manager' within a couple of years.

[Hopingforbetter]

As previously said, why is this in the Manor Ward and not any other ward or a few wards in the town? It would be interesting to see a breakdown of how council tax money (our money) is spent in each ward.  See if there is any political bias towards Manor.