I Guess That Birmingham City Councillors,

are allegedly asking themselves a few questions,

as they arrive for work at their offices above like, 'does anyone know a good lawyer?', I say that as it appears that some of the council signed a contract to a company that looks after highways in the borough, the same company also plants small saplings for them, the contract was signed some time ago, now here is the problem, the company charges the rate payers of Birmingham £2,000 every time it plants a sapling on pavements, verges or central reservations in Birmingham, as a guide the same small tree that can be bought for as little as £20 in any local garden centre or on line, but it is not as easy as it appears,


defending the charges made by private company Amey, contract manager Eddie Fellows said: 'it cannot be compared to placing a tree in a park, the highway is a hostile environment for a tree, particular species need to be selected, then there are ground works and the impact on utilities to be considered, the work is carried out on an active highway, then there are accidents and vandalism',


so I guess that makes the charges fair although local Labour councillor Victoria Quinn fumed, 'I have to say I find this charge ridiculous, it is reprehensible that, in 2013 during a time of austerity, we are being asked to pay this much for a natural resource', I have to say I find the charges a bit on the high side, I mean there must be a cheaper way to plant a £20 sapling,


Amey has a £2.7billion contract to upgrade and maintain Birmingham’s highway network and plant saplings until 2035, so now you know why some councillors are allegedly asking the question, 'do you know a good lawyer?'.