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Chopping down 100-year-old trees will be vandalism, say Brighton campaigners

12:20pm Tuesday 9th February 2010


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.


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oldmarket, Hove says...
12:33pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Everything has its time, including trees. If it can be proved that the trees are dangerous and have reached the end of their natural, they have to go and be replaced. The emphasis does have to be on the council's tree surgeons to prove the case. If residents want an independent view of the matter, they could band together and come up with about £300-400 for a report by an outside expert. Bartlett are the recognised tree specialists and can be found at bartlett.com. No, I don't work for them but have used them to inspect trees and they are excellent. Worth a call.

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Don Pedro , Brighton says...
12:45pm Tue 9 Feb 10

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!

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Wiggsy, Hove says...
1:06pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Don Pedro wrote:
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!
Fully agree; unless the Council can conclusively prove there is a danger, then this will just set a precedent elsewhere throughout the City

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wellsyuk, Brighton says...
1:14pm Tue 9 Feb 10

This is a deliberate attempt to reduce maintenance costs of regular pruning, there's nothing wrong with those trees. What a disgrace..

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tyjeffries@hotmail.com, Hove says...
1:38pm Tue 9 Feb 10

'Old Market Hove' perhaps doesn't understand that plane trees such as these have a life of around 250 years. The Clyde Road trees are in their prime at 80 to 100. Healthy and not diseased. With proper care and maintenance they can be kept to a manageable size. Pollarding is usual in the streets of London and Paris and villages throughout France where they are ubiquitous.
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.

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oldmarket, Hove says...
1:57pm Tue 9 Feb 10

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.

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quedula, brighton says...
2:11pm Tue 9 Feb 10

oldmarket wrote:
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.
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.

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Granny, Brighton says...
2:27pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Another ploy by the council to save money? Why have the trees suddenly become dangerous I wonder. A good idea for an expert to give an opinion - he might even do it for nothing if the residents ask nicely.

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JamboBrighton, Brighton says...
2:31pm Tue 9 Feb 10

This wouldn't happen in a ward which was controlled by Tory councillors.

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Gaz the great, Brighton says...
3:33pm Tue 9 Feb 10

JamboBrighton wrote:
This wouldn't happen in a ward which was controlled by Tory councillors.
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?

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Spanners, Hove says...
3:52pm Tue 9 Feb 10

independant report would seem the best way to go for residents of this street. Bartletts have been mentioned, I'd also try calling The Ecology Consultancy in Lewes. I don't work for them but have had positive experience of them. As quedula said - you might find they will reduce rates for the PR. I do note that B&H council are not on the list of clients for Ecology Consultancy. Bartletts don't have a client list on their website so not sure about them. Worth keeping an eye out any conflict of interests though...

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HayleyC, Brighton says...
5:08pm Tue 9 Feb 10

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.

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iisasambo, brighton says...
5:23pm Tue 9 Feb 10

trees down, parking machines in, you know its going to happen. you will awake one morning to the sound of chainsaws, take action now, chain a resident to each one.
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.

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Bob_The_Ferret, Brighton says...
5:29pm Tue 9 Feb 10

iisasambo must be right. There are so many trees here, there's no room between their roots to plant the new parking meters!

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jaywalker, says...
5:54pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Are they getting us twinned with the Sahara desert? they don't have many trees there do they? But, they DO have SAND! Something we sadly lack!

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Christophe Hawtree, Hove says...
6:39pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Whenever a "developer" wants to chop down trees, the Council's tree dept caves in. There were great trees on Tesco site in Hove, all gone, replaced by spindly things.

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Rita Snatch, brighton says...
7:00pm Tue 9 Feb 10

The tree roots will probably eventually damage the underground tube train tunnel network potentially proposed for Brighton and Hove.

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TheInsider, Brighton says...
7:06pm Tue 9 Feb 10

No-one believes a word this council says anymore. This Tory lot would set up multi-storey graveyards if it could make money out of renting space.
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.

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Patrick Mustard, Craggy Island says...
9:42pm Tue 9 Feb 10

What a boring thread...

Something about horses and councillors wasting tax payers money.

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curtis tappenden, brighton says...
1:59am Wed 10 Feb 10

branch out, trunk call,
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!

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tyjeffries@hotmail.com, Hove says...
6:34am Wed 10 Feb 10

HayleyC wrote:
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.
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).

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chroma, hove says...
11:08am Wed 10 Feb 10

What was very apparent during the recent snow-in, was that those streets with elderly, graceful trees, were the ones where the pavements remained mostly unaffected by snow as the trees provided shelter and canopy.
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 CAMPAIGN: Residents are protesting at plans to chop down 100-year-old trees


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