Call to stop plan to rip out mature trees in makeover

A residents’ association chief is urging the city council to ditch its proposal to uproot trees in St George’s Street as part of a makeover.

David Kemsley, the chairman and tree officer of the Oaten Hill and District Society, says mature trees are vital to the city’s air quality as they remove pollutants from the atmosphere.

In September the council revealed it has a £639,000 plan to replace the three mature trees with an avenue of five younger trees, create space for outdoor entertainment and install pitches for market stalls.

Mr Kemsley is calling for a rethink on removing the mature maple, ash and lime trees.

He said: “Given the planning inspector’s call for further evidence regarding the impact of the Local Plan on air quality in Canterbury, it is ever more important that we cherish the trees that we already do have.

“They are quietly working away moderating temperature and removing pollutants from our city centre air.

“Does Canterbury City Council really require any more evidence that we have a real air quality problem in Canterbury and the contribution that trees make in pollutant amelioration?

“I’m all for the council spending this money here and I don’t see why they can’t put in some stunning specimen trees.

“I realise that replacements are to be planted but these look to be deliberately smaller because of the need to be rid of an overbearing canopy.

“The notion that trees can somehow be regarded as dispos- able inconveniences to make way for some highly questionable aesthetic improvements is really not acceptable in this day and age.”

The city council insists the work to St George’s Street is necessary and says it wants to create a linear space in the heart of the city that is flexible, adaptable, and vibrant, both during the day and at night. It is hoping more use will be made of the open space in the evenings.

Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “We’re in the middle of the consultation for this project and would like to thank Mr Kemsley for his comments. If he has not already submitted his view as part of the consultation, we’d encourage him to do so.

“It is a proposal at this stage but the root damage is already causing a hazard to pedestrians, which will only get worse. New trees are planted with root containment systems to prevent this from happening.”

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Picture: Gary Browne FM4591407 David Kemsley is unhappy about plans to cut the trees down in St George’s Street, Canterbury

An artist’s impression of how St George’s Street in Canterbury could look