Safety led to trees removal
Maidenhead: Worry work happened without full notice
Concerns have been raised over two ‘amazing’ trees being felled by the council in Ray Mead Road, Maidenhead.
Jane Shire, a Maidenhead resident of 38 years, has complained of a lack of transparency over the decision to remove two London plane trees beside Riverside Gardens park.
The council says they have become diseased and need to be felled for public safety.
Jane and her husband
Rob, both in their 70s, contacted the Advertiser when work began earlier this week.
“My husband and I feel so strongly about this,” said Jane.
“Work had already started before we got here – they started very quickly – and the trees have already had a few branches removed.
“If the council tree section needs to take down trees, residents must be properly informed.
“It’s ok to say they will be replaced but these trees are over two hundred years old – they’re amazing trees.”
London plane trees were first planted in the UK during the 17th century and are a common sight in towns and cities across the country. They can grow up to 35m tall and live for hundreds of years.
Jane said she had asked the council to provide the assessment which found the trees were diseased, and that she had been assured no work would take place until reasoning was given.
However, work had started despite this.
She added: “We just want to see the reasons. Fair enough, maybe it should be taken down but we need to know the reasons.
“The trunks of these trees look absolutely fine and we don’t like the trend of just chopping down mature trees.
“Even if it helps other trees in the future, we just want to raise awareness and to know the reasons why.”
A council spokesperson said: “The council is removing two London plane trees by Riverside Gardens in Ray Mead Road, and at the junction between Derek Road and Ray Mead Road as, unfortunately, both trees were found to have widespread decay.
“Both trees have been inspected by an arboriculturist and, due to the extent of the decay present in both of these trees, a decision was made that they needed to be removed in the interests of public safety, which must be the council’s top priority.
“In addition to the decay, fungi associated with the brittle fractures of branches and stems was also identified in both trees.
“Where large and/or prominent trees must be removed a site notice is displayed on the tree and local councillors are informed, as was the case in this instance.”
Information on planned tree works in Windsor and Maidenhead can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ yyunsraw.