Labour Councillors in Cardiff have blamed the Liberal Democrats mis-management of the budget for flooding which has happened across the city during the heavy rain in recent weeks. Labour Deputy Leader and Cardiff North Assembly Candidate Sophie Howe has received information which reveals that fallen leaves are not being swept up because there are not enough staff to do it.
Seasonal leaf sweeping has traditionally been managed through the use of overtime for Council staff but the Lib Dem Administration has issued a ban on overtime in order to address their budget crisis. This means that leaf fall is not being swept away and drains and gullies are being blocked.
Residents across the City have complained of drains being blocked and incidences of flooding. In Column Road yesterday approximately 10 meters of pavement was totally flooded causing pedestrians to have to go through the gardens of homes to pass the flooded area. In Whitchurch the brook has started to tip over the banks as a result of water failing to drain away. In St Mellon, commuters were left finding alternative routes after Vaindre Lane, the main route to catch buses on Newport Road, was completely flooded.
And flooding is not the only problems being caused - last week an elderly lady was hospitalised as a result of slipping on wet leaves as she got off the bus in Penlline Road in Whitchurch.
In a letter to Councillor Sophie Howe Council officials confirmed that collection of leaf fall is now being done as part of the existing daily work schedule and they are only concentrating on the worst affected areas.
Labour Deputy Leader and Cardiff North Assembly Candidate Sophie Howe said:
"We have demanded to know what services will be affected by the Lib Dems budget cuts and they have refused to tell us but it is now becoming clear that the cuts are affecting the most basic services.
Wherever you go in the city there is evidence of drains being blocked and flooding of roads and pavements. The ban on overtime has meant that the leaf fall which has been cleared by the Council in previous years is now only being done on a limited basis and failure to collect these fallen leaves is having disastrous consequences for the safety of residents themselves and their homes."
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