Chopping down 100-year-old trees will be vandalism, say Brighton campaigners (From The Argus)
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Chopping down 100-year-old trees will be vandalism, say Brighton campaigners
12:20pm Tuesday 9th February 2010 in
Council bosses have been accused of vandalism over plans to chop down 100-year-old trees.
A resident has posted signs to trees which have been earmarked for removal in Clyde Road, Brighton.
The signs say: “Save this tree from council vandalism”.
Action was taken after Brighton and Hove City Council sent residents letters saying the trees could be cut down because they are considered dangerous.
Angry residents have now set up a petition against the plans, but no one in the area knows who posted the signs, which call for people to email their objections to the council's director of environment Jenny Rowlands.
A council spokesman said: ”We appreciate local residents are fond of the trees and letters have been sent to people in the street to keep them informed.
“There are also plans for a public meeting to discuss their concerns and look at other options, for example it may be possible that some of the trees could be lopped back hard, to avoid felling at this stage. Any trees which are felled will be replaced.”
Is the council right to chop down the trees? Tell us what you think below.
Comments(22)
Don Pedro
says...
12:45pm Tue 9 Feb 10
I think you’ll find the answer only ever lies in the issue of one thing - money. Well, there’s a surprise!
Yes, it will cost money to cut these trees down that have mystically become ‘dangerous’ to the public but the Council will be looking to it’s long term savings of not having to maintain the tree pruning scheme that takes place every two years.
Yes, they may put on the appearance of ‘consultation,’ but this council acts like a small fascist State, in that they always get their own way! All the parties seem as bad as one another.
I think you’ll find therein lies the answer. Other streets in Brighton with trees – look out – you could well be next!
Wiggsy
says...
1:06pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Don Pedro wrote:Fully agree; unless the Council can conclusively prove there is a danger, then this will just set a precedent elsewhere throughout the City
After living in this town/city for nearly all of my life I understand with this Council’s initiatives that you have to ask one question - what’s really behind this proposed action? I think you’ll find the answer only ever lies in the issue of one thing - money. Well, there’s a surprise! Yes, it will cost money to cut these trees down that have mystically become ‘dangerous’ to the public but the Council will be looking to it’s long term savings of not having to maintain the tree pruning scheme that takes place every two years. Yes, they may put on the appearance of ‘consultation,’ but this council acts like a small fascist State, in that they always get their own way! All the parties seem as bad as one another. I think you’ll find therein lies the answer. Other streets in Brighton with trees – look out – you could well be next!
wellsyuk
says...
1:14pm Tue 9 Feb 10
tyjeffries@hotmail.com
says...
1:38pm Tue 9 Feb 10
The council have used various arguments to bolster their case. That the street is 'dark','gloomy' and 'depressing' that the trees are inappropriate..that branches might 'fall on peoples heads'. Which is it? There are far older and larger plane trees in brighton (i.e.Pelham Sq) and elms which line many Brighton roads can live as long and grow as big... it's just that they are properly pruned and pollarded. Perhaps the council thought no one would notice or care about these 25 or so situated on a Preston Circus side street...
Please take a look at 'Save the Clyde Road Trees' on Facebook. Thank you.
oldmarket
says...
1:57pm Tue 9 Feb 10
quedula
says...
2:11pm Tue 9 Feb 10
oldmarket wrote:I agree. It would be a brilliant propaganda coup if an independent tree expert came up with a favourable opinion. The residents might even find one to do a survey at a reduced charge for the sake of the good publicity.
Hi tyjeffries, I'm no expert in trees at all and accept what you say. All I was suggesting is that between a street full of residents, it's not such a huge cost to get an independent expert to examine the trees. If the council is wrong, it should be provable. If they are dangerous, perhaps because of disease, the residents ought to know about that, too.
Granny
says...
2:27pm Tue 9 Feb 10
JamboBrighton
says...
2:31pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Gaz the great
says...
3:33pm Tue 9 Feb 10
JamboBrighton wrote:If this is this the case, let them prove it. Also thought the Green party were all for green issues, I am sure trees fit into this category?
This wouldn't happen in a ward which was controlled by Tory councillors.
Spanners
says...
3:52pm Tue 9 Feb 10
HayleyC
says...
5:08pm Tue 9 Feb 10
iisasambo
says...
5:23pm Tue 9 Feb 10
good luck, the streets without trees would be pretty boring, squirrells evicted. eco warriors, and animal rights campaigners should take to the streets, call up smash edo, they know all the routes to march through the town, do it on a signing on the dole day, they will come then.
Bob_The_Ferret
says...
5:29pm Tue 9 Feb 10
jaywalker
says...
5:54pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Christophe Hawtree
says...
6:39pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Rita Snatch
says...
7:00pm Tue 9 Feb 10
TheInsider
says...
7:06pm Tue 9 Feb 10
It's reputation is in tatters.
Set up a collection to pay for an independent report.
People will chip in a few quid to get an honest opinion.
Patrick Mustard
says...
9:42pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Something about horses and councillors wasting tax payers money.
curtis tappenden
says...
1:59am Wed 10 Feb 10
sap the strength, stand tall,
stationary soldiers, stand your guard,
purse strings strangle, permit card;
one hundred years, not bombed in war,
what your price, compared to a car;
choke in fumes, still the pigeon ****,
upon shiny bonnets as direct hits.
skeletal winters, summery shade,
to town hall pomp and the cavalcade;
say chop the lot, it'll go unseen,
hid in their heads all mushed and green.
then grey skies gather, fall toxic rain,
scalp the city, slaughter for gain,
kill the earth, kill her mother,
kill the daughters- kill all others;
kill the elm, kill the oak,
mug the park in evergreen cloak.
Then wipe saw blades, smile and wink,
Now a whore crawls kerbs on their streets-
ker-chink!
tyjeffries@hotmail.com
says...
6:34am Wed 10 Feb 10
HayleyC wrote:The growth of the roots of a tree are limited to the extent of its canopy of branches.....by keeping the branches pollarded the roots are then stopped from growing any larger as they have no need to.But more to the point, he council are not quoting this as the issue, only that some trees may be unsafe.. which hasn't been proven..and that the street is dark and gloomy because the trees have been allowed to grow to large (by them).
Thing is though, tree's roots spread outwards to over one and half of the tree's height, so a tree's burrowing roots would be undermining the foundations of any buildings around, potentailly making them unstable. Thats why the tree's could be dangerous.
chroma
says...
11:08am Wed 10 Feb 10
Again, another 'mother-council knows best...'
Trees, doormats, Christmas eleves selling misteloe....only pompous egos, over-spending and parish pump politics remain unchecked.
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CAMPAIGN: Residents are protesting at plans to chop down 100-year-old trees
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oldmarket says...
12:33pm Tue 9 Feb 10