VILLAGERS at Culcheth are complaining about the needless removal of trees – particularly from The Common and in the Kirkby Road area.
They claim borough council workmen arrive, unannounced, early in the morning and fell trees claiming they are “diseased” or in need of being thinned out.
One resident, Brian Wilkinson, said: “If one now examines Kirkby Road, the right hand side is virtually denuded of trees.
“They never replace one.”
In another incident, a small tree on the edge of The Common, opposite the retirement flats, was “decimated” in order to place some form of electrical box there, he said.
Mr Wilkinson said the trees were often removed at 8am, before locals were out and about.
Trees that were well in leaf were removed.
He added: “Could we seek leadership to have this stopped? Could the council be required to replace any actually diseased trees and could the adjacent residents have sight of any alleged ‘disease’ report well before action is taken?”
A council spokesman said: “After an inspection from the arboricultural officer in May, some of the trees on Kirkby Road were found to be dead, including the tree on Culcheth Common, or in decline due to fungal disease. These trees were felled to remove any risks posed to the public and to prevent the spread of the fungal disease.
“It is not common practice for us to notify the public about works being carried out as our work programme is extensive. However, we have taken on board residents’ concerns about not being notified.”
Pictured: workmen fell trees at Culcheth.
Anger over felling of trees
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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I am a member of the Mersey Forest Steering Group Committee and yesterday we were reviewing many programmes of work and projects past present and future.
Amongst them was the Mersey Forest Plan that includes Culcheth and the rest of Warrington but more importantly ‘The Big Tree Plant’ as well as the very successful Green Safari Day (at Risley the other weekend) and most relevant our ‘Street Planting Programme’.
Can I suggest that people log onto http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/vote and place your comments on the system. It is your opportunity to make suggestions where more trees need to be planted?
You can also name and shame your favourite woodland area – the idea is to get people’s views about what they want to see for the future.
I understand concerns about apparent lack of consultation before tree felling but in my experience they are always important reasons as stated above as to this takes place. It is very hard indeed to get a tree felled. It would appear that the issue lies more about communications and I will try and get that improved wearing my other hats, particularly as Chair of the Warrington Nature Conservation Forum. We would like to hear from people through our WNCF Facebook Site on this and any other Nature Conservation Issues where we act as an independent group working alongside an array of related groups.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Warrington-Nature-Conservation-Forum/110886079024465
Finally I am of the view that any trees that have to go should be replaced by an appropriate replacement where ever possible.
I don’t know if there is someone at the Council who suffers from dendrophobia (an irrational fear of trees) but ,if so, I hope they seek therapy before they destroy all of Warrington’ s natural habitats.