A TREE preservation group is seeking reassurance after trees in a Hereford street were cut back so much that they may not survive. The trees in Eign Gate in Hereford were cut back to make sure that CCTV cameras could survey the whole of the street. But the Herefordshire Tree Forum said this must not happen again and trees in the city need to be preserved.
Chair of the group, Felicity Norman, said: “People did it in good faith. I am told it was because the trees were obstructing the CCTV camera but let’s move the CCTV.
“If they want the town to be attractive for visitors and surely everyone does, then we really need to value what we have got.”
She said they want reassurance it was a one-off and won’t happen again in the future. They are still uncertain if the gingko trees will grow back as they do not appear to have been cut correctly. Cllr Norman added: “We have lost so many trees over the years and they have never get replaced.”
Mike Long, a retail manager in Eign Gate and chair of Hereford Retail, said there is a security aspect, as well as concerns about health and safety.
He said: “When the leaves fall and it is very wet, some people have slipped. One lady fell and broke her hip.
“From a security point of view, since they cut back it back the CCTV is able to view the whole of Eign Gate.
“There was antisocial behaviour and drinking in the whole of Eign Gate. It has all stopped.
“Since the trees have been cut it has opened it up- it is the best thing they did to cut them back. I am not saying cut them down. But we have got to keep it under control.”
He said that trees are wonderful in the right place but they were simply too big for the proximity of the street. He added: “From a business point of view footfall has increased.
Shoppers can now see right down to the bottom of the street and can see all of the businesses.”
A Herefordshire Council1 spokesman said: “Balfour Beatty Living Places, working in partnership with Herefordshire Council, manage the cutting back of trees around the county.
In this case, CCTV in the area was obstructed which meant the trees in question were due to be cut back to alleviate this.
“It has been agreed that the trees will not be cut further and steps have been taken to ensure their retention and maintenance is enabled.”
References
- ^ Herefordshire Council (www.ledburyreporter.co.uk)