Naive to suggest trees dangerous

I fully concur with Cllr Pip Hazelton’s letter titled ‘Glib Suggestion is not realistic’ [Gazette, June 30].

In the matter of the St George’s Place, Chantry Lane, New Dover Road crossroads [‘Axing trees on deadly stretch of road would be a travesty’, Gazette, June 30], the law is broken at this point regularly each and every day and little or nothing appears to be done about it.

Jaywalking, cycling on footpaths, use of illegal electric scooters, drivers using mobile phones and, of most concern, vehicles driving through and ignoring the red traffic signals; these mainly from Chantry Lane itself, are rife.

To suggest that the trees in the central reservation are a contributory factor for accidents and incidents on the south-easterly approach to it is extremely naive indeed.

Furthermore, for the Planning Department and KCC to suggest that future incidents at this exceedingly busy crossroads will be rectified when the developers for the proposed Mountfield Park site are tasked to redesign and finance the vital work required there, is sloughing totally their responsibility and duty to the public.

This work should be carried out immediately. Meanwhile the area needs thorough and active policing.

Tom Lynch

New Dover Road, Canterbury

■ Following the move of our business to St George’s Place in 1997 I wrote to Canterbury City Council, my letter headed St George’s Place - a Tree Lined Avenue?

My letter commented that the townscape of the road could be visually improved from the then featureless and wide roadway and complement the then works to build the new visitor centre, etc, at St Augustine’s Abbey.

I did not receive any response from the council but the Gazette featured my letter and supported my proposal.

Some months later I was contacted by the highway engineers who were then planning safety improvements - the installation of the pelican crossing and fencing along a central reservation.

I was invited to a meeting with representatives of local amenity groups.

We were told that the council was keen to see tree planting but did not have funding within the budget.

It was suggested that we could try and raise funding locally.

I headed the fundraising and local businesses, organisations and amenity groups contributed, as well as the Kentish Gazette. The names of the contributors are recorded on a plaque at the centre of the crossing.

I believe that this planting is the only such scheme in the district

- a significant environmental improvement funded by local people, businesses and organisations - and should not be threatened as felling would have a significant and harmful impact on the conservation area.

Yes, there are issues with pedestrian safety at the crossroads by the Premier Inn of the four crossings, only two are signalled controlled.

The trees do not limit visibility to drivers, although the canopy could be raised. The speed limit could be reduced to 20mph as

‘Art rouses questions; it is not there to confirm dogma. Much better to view a statue and feel puzzled over your response than be bored, to have questions raised than remain in a coma of convention...’

has recently been introduced on other city roads.

The ‘under-planting’ along the central reservation was designed to prevent people crossing at other locations along the road by making the fencing harder to climb over. If this were removed some people would no doubt attempt the crossing and find themselves in a dangerous position, balancing on the narrow raised area.

Jeanne Taylor

Canterbury