• DURING the current lockdown, for those of us living in flats or on estates, it is now impossible to ignore the horrendous noise caused by the weekly visit of contract gardeners who use petrol-driven leaf-blowers.

As they usually come on a weekday during working hours many will not have known how extremely noisy they are (those who operate them have to wear ear defenders) but they will now be aware of what people obliged to be at home have to put up with every week of the year.

Leaf-blowers also blow up dust clouds which are a health hazard for people with respiratory illnesses, in particular children with asthma.

Surely the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government should consider banning their use by contract gardeners, at least for the duration of the pandemic? After all, the use of leaf-blowers can scarcely be described as “essential”.

EDDIE LEWISOHN
N6