Road closures for tree safety works

Cookham: Ash dieback project in autumn and winter

Tree safety works due to ash dieback will lead to the closure of several roads in Cookham this autumn and winter.

Ash dieback is a highly infectious disease which causes trees to become dangerous because of the potential for falling limbs or trunks.

Hockett and Bigfrith

Lanes in Cookham are set to be closed during half term from October 25 until October 29, from 9.30am-4pm, while the National Trust carries out tree safety works on those affected.

Elsewhere, Gibraltar Lane will close for four four-day periods between 9:30am-4pm during October, November and January.

These dates will be:

October 18 - 21

November 1-4

January dates are likely to be 10-13 and 24-27.

In the Maidenhead and Cookham area, there has been a rapid increase in trees in severe decline over the past two years, the National Trust says.

National Trust lead ranger Tim Crauford said: “We recognise that felling trees in well-loved landscapes is difficult for people to see.

“However, we will only remove those trees that have been identified as posing a risk.

“Further into their decline the trees can become extremely hazardous to work on.”

Neil Wilson, of Beechwood Tree Care, which is contracted to carry out the work, added: “We understand this is very inconvenient for residents, roadusers and walkers, but tree felling is a hazardous, complex operation and it’s essential to have a secure worksite.

“Our vehicles and machinery will take up the entire road, so we’ll not be able to accommodate any vehicle movements in or out of the closed roads during the works. Access for emergency vehicles will not be affected.”