OUTRAGED occupiers are protesting at plans by Cheshire West and Chester Council to fell trees on safety grounds.
The council argues three hornbeams in Hartington Street, Handbridge have been inspected and need to be removed. The survey followed complaints by residents to local councillor Razia Daniels (Con).
The move has led to an exchange of correspondence between Hartington Street resident Reg Barritt, general secretary of the Handbridge Residents’ Council and the council’s chief executive, Steve Robinson.
Mr Barritt told Mr Robinson he had no objection to the survey but suggested: “Those of us who live in these streets should have been informed of the fact this survey has been undertaken and the reasons for it.
“The fact this has not happened and that we have not been consulted is seriously disappointing.”
Mr Barritt added: “We do not want to see any healthy trees removed from our avenues.”
Some occupiers would be willing to pay towards replacements, he believes.
He has asked to be shown the trees which are to be felled and says a qualified specialist has found none which require removal.
Mr Robinson said the council would not normally inform residents of tree surveys or other inspections carried out at the request of a councillor.
He added: “Highway departments are funded only to carry out safety related work on highway trees and as such would not remove trees if there were no safety concerns.”
The council is reluctant to plant trees on narrow verges, he reveals, as, while some residents are keen ‘we get an equal, if not greater number of requests for trees to be removed’.
