The hedge won't last

I was stopped by one of the councillors who raised a Point of Order on the grounds that I was making a statement, not asking a question. The chairman accepted that and I was not allowed to continue with my introductory preamble which was leading into my question.

So I am now putting the point that visitors and residents have been noticing since the hedge was planted last autumn. This plant, called by its Maori name ‘Kapuka’, has a very high frost tolerance of -10ºC before any damage is shown. However, from the experience of Bexhill residents, it has a very low tolerance of salt gales.

The experience of South Cliff residents is that these plants will not last more than two years when, in the right situation around Bexhill, it should grow to a nine-foot hedge.

So what happens now? The contract signed by English Landscapes means that on the last day the site must be put back exactly as it was on day one of the planting. So all the many hundreds of the hedging plants have got to be replaced. They will then be subjected to the regular autumn gales and will once again succumb.

It is this which is already worrying Rother’s Parks department who then take over the contract. Because with virtually total replacements being required on average every two years, this is going to become very expensive.

This size plant (three-litre) is currently retailing at £7.50 each plus labour. So with, say 1,000 plants, the cost of this one species alone will be £7,500 every two years !

If you now add the 50 or so other species, then you have a massive problem.

When I put my question to Councillor Maynard, he avoided the point and said simply “The contractors have to replace the plants”. You have been warned !

AP HAMILTON

Southcourt Avenue

Bexhill-on-Sea