Sheffield Council opposition criticizes ‘weak’ investigation into logging scandal UK News

Lib Dem leader Shaffaq Mohammed said the investigation could not be a “lime white” and made a series of demands regarding the investigation, including that it not be hidden from public view as this is currently planned.

The coalition of Greens and Labor has pledged the investigation as part of its “first year stages” by appointing an independent person to lead it following elections which saw the Labor group lose overall control of Sheffield City Council.

However, Councilor Mohammed slammed the proposal. He said: “The new Green / Labor coalition has accepted a weak ‘local’ inquiry into why the Council and other Sheffield public bodies felled thousands of trees in the streets.

“The street tree problem grabbed the Sheffield headlines for all the wrong reasons. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money have been spent, people threatened with jail and thousands of healthy trees were shot.

“A comfortable insider investigation just won’t do the trick. We need to hold those responsible to account. We cannot let the Labor / Green coalition do this locally and judge themselves. The investigation must be fully public, objectively conducted by a person with the status of retired judge, with full access to documents and persons.

“What is very disappointing is that despite the previous call for an ‘independent inquiry’ in February 2018 and that they continue to demand this in this year’s municipal elections, Party advisers Green went back on what they had told voters in May and did a public inquiry.

“It’s about moving forward and rebuilding confidence. All advisers should be held accountable for this. Let’s do this investigation properly rather than hiding behind closed doors. “

The investigation is expected to begin in the fall and will examine the saga which has seen thousands of street trees cut down and replaced with saplings under a £ 2bn highway management contract with Amey. Campaigners argued that many tree cuts involved healthy trees and were unnecessary.

Before last month’s election, Labor had resisted an investigation.