to Cllr Tom Russon

Many thanks for writing.  Great to hear from you.  How did you find the "historical (back to 2009) pictures", please?

My response to your points, although you might want to re-read what I have previously penned, too:

1.  You need to go back to the 1990s/00s, I think, for the thick coverage of trees and shrubs planted by the DfT or Highways England or whatever they were called at the time.  It took place on the wide section of central reservation between where the remnant can be seen, now, eastwards up to and beyond, east of Lapal Lane South.  This is the area where I eventually got something done but it was so disappointing - only cherry trees planted that have had gaps for a very long time.  I asked for a full reinstatement of what was originally there but only got, eventually, the lollipop trees.  This, again, gives you the exact area for replanting.

2.  Such a wide central reservation must still have mowing once a year in a strip one metre maximum width from the carriageway.  This answers your objection.  The rest should be left with no mowing to sequester CO2 and to cut GHG emissions from burning oil to run the lawn mowers.  No mowing regimes are seen in many other councils throughout the UK.  It is nothing new!

3.  In my 78 years, I have never before seen such an enormous roundabout, as we have with the Grange roundabout (A456/A459), without even grass.  It is the gateway to Halesowen and Dudley borough from the M5.  It remains a shame, indeed an embarrassment to us all.  Over the decades, some of my visitors have commented on the black, bare, Nature devoid, barren, 30 metre diameter roundabout.  When the snow comes, Hilary Bills told me, that drivers have been known to drive straight over it despite signs and chevrons.

4.  I will pay for the two or three standard, native, medium sized trees from the Woodland Trust, if professionally planted and staked, on the other side of the footpath from the 5G mast and boxes.

The two officers, Reece Shilvock and Wayne, at council offices in Leasowes Park need to have it suggested that engaging politely and professionally is better than angrily throwing me out at my audacity at approaching up the drive!!  I've only ever seen Reece once, he never replies to emails and I do wonder whether he does do any work.  Andrew Allison, clearly does exist from his email which covered only one out of four requests.  He also needs challenging over his ridiculous claim that trees cannot be planted because of cables and pipes under the tarmac.  So why is it that the Grange roundabout may well be the only major roundabout on a gateway route with nothing but black tarmac and not even grass?  And, therefore apparently, the only one with utilities/services under it.  Where is the evidence of those pipes and cables underground?  It is the ugliest in the UK.  All the others are professionally landscaped from what I have seen.  Even in Dudley!

You youngsters can learn a thing or two from ancients like me who has now lived in the same house in heavenly Halesowen for exactly fifty years this month.  At 28 Hunnington Cres, Halesowen B63 3DJ.  It also proves that a now mature tree where I planted it, on my front lawn years ago in front of the house, will not disrupt pipes and cables.  The roots must have grown past them and our new drive did not damage the tree either.

Remember, a literal interpretation of Net Zero means that we should be burning up fossil fuels only if Nature can be reinstated in sufficient quantities and quality to absorb CO2 (one of five  major greenhouse gases).  Hence, human activity must be in balance with life support systems, aka ecology or Nature.