Leaves on the line may not get as much press as they used to these days but leaves on the pavement may soon be taking over from them.
Tonnes have fallen from trees in recent weeks and while it was dry they didn’t cause too many problems but now it’s damp, they’ve formed squelchy, greasy mounds and I feel for the old or infirm who have to negotiate these slip hazards on pathways across the district.
Time was, councils would have men out collecting the leaves when they fell to stop them piling up and causing problems. Presumably due to budget cuts, they are not so common and big drifts build up ready to literally trip up the unwary or less nimble.
I can see compensation claims soaring but who is responsible? Maybe the councils know they can’t be sued because leaves dropping is an act of God rather like snow drifts. But I think it’s a disgrace to put people’s health and lives at risk in this way.
Surely joined-up thinking would see that spending a bit of money of cleaning up the leaves would save money by reducing the number of accident and emergency admissions from sprains and fractures and clearing block-up drains. But unfortunately these days everyone’s budgets are separate and things don’t work like that.
If every town or village or suburb employed a handyman or two, not only could they deal with problems like this but they could put grit out in cold weather, clear trees obstructing signs and pick up litter – all those jobs which seem to be overlooked but can irritate.
Not only would this deal with a lot of jobs, it would mean a reassuring presence on the streets for residents.
And, in the case of leaves, there’s a free resource just rotting away that could be composted and sold. It wouldn’t cost that much either, just a few pounds each a year on the council tax.

Green or Obscene – the mileage counter

It’s interesting to notice that every month my mileage is more or less consistent: about 500 by car, 100 being driven, 700 by train and 100 on foot. The aim is to cut down on the former and up the latter. With a big servicing bill for the car this week, I only wish I had a car club near me so I could use one of their vehicles instead.

Miles by car: -474
Miles being driven: -145
Miles by train: +710
Miles on foot: +106
Miles by bike: +0
Miles by bus: +0
Total: +197 (running total: -1504)