Money does not grow on trees

Money does not grow on trees

At the heritage forum last week, a packed room saw concerned residents raising many issues which are still out there waiting to be answered.

We did ask for a breakdown of costs.But whilst we wait, we have been calculating it all...

At the meeting it was stated that the removal of each tree costs £8000. This seems an astronomical sum for tree removal. Indeed this would add up to over £250,000 for the removal of the trees alone. Given that my neighbour had a tree removed from his garden for £50 I would suggest that Bradford council needs to look into its procurement processes as a matter of urgency.

If we assume that the street lights cost between £1,500 and £2500 per lamp including service connection (http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parkingtransportandstreets/roadshighwaysstreetcare/costwiltshighwaysworks.htm) 

Given the look of the lamp we would assume we are going to be on the more expensive end of the scale. As the scheme drawing shows 21 lamps we can assume a cost of £52,500 all in.

This leaves us with a remaining £391,500.

We were also told that the cost of the paving was £100,000. This still leaves £291,500 as yet unaccounted for.

Interestingly on the scheme drawings it shows that from the railway station to the top of Victoria road will be paved in new York stone paving. This is to be sawn NOT riven. Although riven paving would look consistent with the existing paving it was suggested that due to costs this wasn't an option.

Having looked into this it seems that riven is substantially cheaper per square metre.

Riven costs from £48 per square metre

Sawn costs from £70 per square metre

See for yourselves http://www.yorkstonepaving.com/

http://www.yorkstonesupplies.co.uk/yorkstone-products/yorkstone-paving-flag/

So now we consider the trees! This handy guide by the forestry commission provides a guide price  (see p9)

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/eng-lon-ltwgs-standard-costs-report-appendix.pdf/$file/eng-lon-ltwgs-standard-costs-report-appendix.pdf

However to simplify

Cost of standard tree £133

Evacuate pit in pavement £184

Plan tree £69

So a cost of £386 per tree

Times 8 = £3088

 So a remaining amount of £288,412.

Assuming the floodlighting of the lions will be a similar cost to the column lamps £2,500 x 4 = £10,000

So a remaining total of £288,412

What is this money being spent on? Of course there must be labour costs.... 

It will be good when we know more, as right now, the value for money aspect looks a little unconvincing.  Like much of the rest that has been used to back up justification for the new plan for Saltaire.

Once we get an answer we will post it here.