There has been a considerable amount of interest in the recent removal of a well-loved tree at the junction of West Street and Dinglederry in Olney. The tree was a Turkey Oak, Quercus cerris, and was known to be structurally weak for some time. Milton Keynes Council staff attempted to resolve the issue by reducing and thinning the canopy of the tree, but found the degree of decay to be much worse than expected. Reluctantly they took the decision to remove the tree, after sending out notification letters to local households. Shortly after the felling, the Town Council office received numerous telephone calls from people who were concerned about the loss of the tree.

The tree was not subject to a Preservation Order nor was it within the Conservation Area, so there was no requirement for planning permission for the felling. It is intended that the lost tree will be replaced with another Quercus cerris. It is hoped that the replacement tree will be planted before the end of the month.

A shocking dossier from the Liberal Democrats has revealed just some of the ways our taxes are being wasted on extravagant and incompetent projects.

Despite the hardship many local families and residents face, Labour found £130 million to refurbish the Ministry of Justice’s office, £29 million to build accommodation for asylum seekers which was never built, £7 million for chauffeur-driven cars for ministers in just one year - and £50,000 for a party to which only 20 guests were invited!

A massive £13 billion has also been spent on an NHS records system which doesn’t work.

How our money is wasted

* £13 billion on an NHS record system that is a complete failure
* £130 million on refurbishing Ministry of Justice offices
* £81 million on a Department of Transport economy drive that was supposed to save £57 million
* £29 million on accommodation for asylum seekers that was never built
* £265.8 million the amount the government spent on advertising, marketing and public relations in 2007/8, an increase of £197.2 million since 1997-98
* £200 million wasted over the past five years on IT projects that were never completed
* £7 million on chauffeur driven cars for ministers in one year
* £28.78 million in rent for unoccupied houses for soldiers and their families
* £330 million overspent by government departments on their premises
* £4.2 million by the Government’s Qualifications & Curriculum Authority on hotel rooms in an 18 month period
* £50,000 on a party to which only 20 guests were invited
* £2,000 each on image and public speaking training for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham

Joint statement from OIS and OMS: -

“It is always difficult to make the decision to close a school due to bad weather. The Headteachers of Olney Infant and Olney Middle schools make a joint decision based on the most up to date weather report and road conditions as the majority of our staff live some considerable distance from the schools. If the decision is taken to close the schools parents are informed via the school websites, Milton Keynes’ website (see link below), Heart FM and Three Counties radio stations.” 

For up to date news on school closures due to adverse weather conditions, please click on the ‘school closures‘ link on this page.