
Lib Dem opposition calls for better tree planting and maintenance
Liberal Democrats on Gloucester City Council have laid down a challenge to the Conservatives to plant more trees in the city and improve tree maintenance budgets. Their challenge will be heard at a meeting of the city council when it meets on September 23. Councillor Ashley Bowkett, who represents Barnwood, will move a motion calling for the cabinet member Richard Cook to: - · identify ways the council can do more to support tree planting and maintenance · identify further city council funds for this purpose · encourage the county council to boost funding for highway trees, and · set targets and map them against such further funding so that the 2020 Strategy for Gloucester can be fulfilled. Councillor Bowkett said: "Trees are an essential part of the high-quality green infrastructure that our communities value, yet the current council budget allocated to this is acutely inadequate. "This is putting considerable pressure on the city and county council to meet the commitments laid out in the 2020 Gloucestershir