CONSERVATIVE proposal to bring artificial 'city trees' to Slough town centre has been blocked by the ruling Labour council.
Councillors overwhelmingly voted against the Tory amendments for this year’s budget on Thursday (February 20) to install ten city tree air filter infrastructure devices across the town to not only combat air pollution but bring free wifi and charging points for residents to use.
These city trees filter CO2 while simultaneously producing oxygen and have the air cleaning capability of 275 regular trees, according to the Conservatives.
But they have been described as 'towers filled with moss' by some commentators.
Tory leader Cllr Wayne Strutton - who proposed the idea - said these trees would only cost around £17,000 each but are self-funding as they can be used for advertising and be corporately sponsored by local businesses within Slough
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Speaking against the idea, councillor James Swindlehurst, Labour leader of the council, said: “It’s the question whether you want to have 10,000 real trees to improve your environment or ten metal ones.
“I think I will stay on the real tree front and leave the Conservatives to put up metal ones, frankly.”
However, councillor Robert Anderson, lead member for environment, did not rule out 'city trees' in the future after the redevelopment of the town centre on areas where trees could not be planted.
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