Tree worry in bus hub plan

Species face axe in university bid

Environmental concerns have surfaced over plans for a new transport hub on the Stirling University campus.

The university is proposing to build the hub on a site east of Logie Lecture Theatre and south of the Cottrell Building which is currently a gravel car park.

The plans also include pedestrian paths, bus shelters, lighting and landscape works as well as a new link road to the Innovation Park for a through route for buses to Alloa and the Hillfoots.

However, the Scottish Wildlife Trust have expressed concerns about the loss of mature trees and rough grassland within the campus.

The proposals include the removal of two mature oak trees and one mature horse chestnut.

There are also proposals to take down a birch, beech and Norway maple, planted during the building of the Cottrell Building in the 1970s to allow construction of a ramped footpath, and an oak tree, planted in 1999, to make way for the transport hub.

The wildlife charity’s submission to planners states: ‘It may be possible to spare mature trees adjacent to the bus circulation space by introducing a one-way system so buses need not pass one another and additionally create the essential access by removing a lamp post rather than trees.

‘Use of existing ramped access would eliminate the need to disturb the dense shrubbery.

‘Preserving as many trees and as much rough grassland as possible will improve biodiversity on campus.’

A design and access statement submitted with the university’s plans states: ‘A line of significant mature oak trees lie alongside the road which passes the proposed new public transport hub; this line of trees marks the line of the ‘New Road’ formed in the 1760s by Robert Haldane.

‘Between these veteran trees grow other mature trees of lesser stature and including sycamore as well as oak. The proposals will require removal of three mature trees on this line – two oak trees and one horse chestnut.

‘Protection of the remainder is proposed with the use of ‘no-dig’ construction for new footways proposed within the tree rooting zone.

‘A temporary protection fence will be erected to protect the root system of the mature trees located alongside the road. Four other trees are proposed for felling.

“A birch, beech and Norway maple planted during establishment of the Cottrell Building in the 1970s will be removed to allow construction of the ramped footpath. A young oak tree planted in 1999 will be felled for the transport hub.’’

The statement went on to point out that a bat survey report is to be submitted to planners and tree felling work will take place outwith the birdnesting season, unless an ecologist has inspected a tree and found it to be clear of nests.