Anger at destruction of ‘irreplaceable’ tree
Council pledge after historic cherry tree uprooted
Alyth residents have been left outraged after an historic tree along the burn in the town has been ripped out and destroyed by the council.
The cherry tree, which was planted by the children of Alyth in 1953, was given to the town by the then Alyth Business and Merchants Association to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
The tree, which was around 70 years old, had survived the devastating flood that hit the town in July 2015.
But two weeks ago it was uprooted and destroyed by contractors working on the construction of the new footbridges over the burn which are to replace those destroyed by the flood.
Damage has also been caused to the willow tree which is close to the site of the new bridge at the Toutie Street end of the town, with some of its branches broken off and its roots exposed by excavation work.
The news came to light after the issue was raised at the most recent meeting of Alyth Community Council, held last week.
Describing the tree as “irreplaceable” and “beautiful”, Amanda Blakeman from Alyth Community Council and the Alyth Development Trust, said: “We don’t recollect the potential for the removal of trees alongside the burn ever being part of the consultation process that the council undertook.
“Had we understood how the positioning of the new bridges would impact on the existing treescape people may have proposed alternative sites for the replacement bridges.”
Local councillor for the Strathmore ward, Dennis Melloy, was also contacted by angry Alyth residents about the situation.
He said: “Local people advised me that during excavation work for the new bridge below Toutie Street, a flowering cherry tree was uprooted and destroyed.
“On contacting the council about this, I was advised that the cherry tree had to be removed as it was situated within the area where the new disabled ramp is located for the replacement footbridge.
“I fully understand that the cherry tree would have to be removed but I would have expected that the tree would have been replanted further along the burn, not destroyed.
“Perth and Kinross is after all a ‘big tree county’ and the council’s policy is to protect trees.
“Fears were also raised that a willow tree which is close to the works would also be destroyed.
“I was advised that this will be pruned by the contractor to safely accommodate the works and bridge lift.
“I immediately contacted the tree and woodland officer as I felt that a contractor would not be qualified enough to prune the tree correctly and I am pleased to say that his advice was that pruning of the lower branches on the willow should be restricted to no more than a third of the tree’s overall height and he has discussed this with the engineer in charge.
“I have also had an assurance from the engineer that there is no intention to remove any further trees and that they will look for a suitable location along Pitnacree Street where a new tree can be planted.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for PKC said: “Perth and Kinross Council removed the cherry tree in Alyth to facilitate the construction of a disabled ramp for one of the new footbridges.
“A cherry tree of this age and size could not be transplanted to another location, as it wouldn’t have survived the move.
“A new cherry tree will be planted alongside Pitnacree Street, with the exact location still to be agreed.”