We need clear vision for trees (From Messenger Newspapers)
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We need clear vision for trees
3:59pm Thursday 12th April 2012 in Your Letters
I WAS happy to see the reports of Trafford Council’s tree planting in various locations across the borough.
The positive impact trees have on the environment are well documented and self evident.
Unfortunately last year the council took the decision to remove mature ash trees from Melville Road.
Despite the fact these trees were planted as the houses were built, it appears they only became ‘inappropriate’ 70 years or more after planting.
We were assured that they would be replaced with more appropriate species.
Maybe councils need to consider real benefits against potential problems.
The real benefits to the environment of trees making our roads attractive, balanced against the potential claims which we were informed were the cause of this decision, along with a generic issue of narrow roads (which certainly didn’t apply here), have never been quantified.
How much has been paid out over the years due to claims in regard to the trees on this road?
More importantly the schedule for replacement has not taken place.
Despite the removal of the 11 trees only three have been replanted.
The places for these were made clear on the removal of the mature trees.
The spaces the remainder occupied have now been covered in tarmac with no indication of future planting. All planting was scheduled to be done by March.
I applaud the planting of new tress and welcome it across the area.
It is important to remember that anti-social behaviour and damage to the new planting will unfortunately mean a proportion will not survive, in the current economic climate we know this will mean limited replacement.
Mature trees have much folk lore about their potential impact on drains etc with very little actual science around many claims, in fact their removal often causes huge structural damage as their root systems die and collapse. Let’s have a little more consistency and clear thinking.
Larry Wilson, address supplied
