Over 80 trees between 20 and 30 years old were cut to ground level on the road out of Whiteshill and along a lane to Haresfield Beacon. Many hundreds more trees were felled along other roads across the County as part of a "road verge restoration programme"
I have now had correspondence with the County Ecologist, Cotswold AONB, County Highways and others regarding this matter including many parishioners who have been as shocked as I was by the loss of all these trees.
The County accept that the consultation process was inadequate and will be improved in future although I have not yet had a reply to my letter requesting details of their new procedures. They also consider the tree felling was in line with County policy and that the restoration programme may continue next year.
The policy gives various reasons for the felling and it is clear they all have some validity. Indeed I would fully support the removal of non-native species. However in the light of climate change and public opinion I think the policy needs reviewing.
- "Maintaining and restoring the character of a distinctive landscape" should be open to question. The Cotswold landscape is itself, man-made and once upon a time was wooded.
- Improving wildlife by felling trees is also questionable. Creating virtually new grass verge habitats is great if properly maintained in future but this has been done at a huge expense - the loss of the significant wildlife benefits from mature trees that also filter transport pollution.
- Safety has also been used as an argument: yet there has been much research showing that making the road clearer leads to faster traffic. For example we know parked cars are great at slowing traffic on many roads. And if we are talking structural considerations then surely this is an argument to remove virtually all verge-side trees? I have as yet been unable to get a better understanding of this argument from the County.
I would also note that the removal of trees along many sections like the road to Haresfield Beacon do not appear to fit any of these categories: at this site they are on one side of a road with woodland on the other side. This is certainly not an example of opening up the landscape.
In my view, in the light of climate change it is time for a debate on the issue. What do others think?
3 comments:
No way should these trees be cut. It is a crime.
We don't need grotty self sown trees blocking the view and keeping the road dark and wet particularly when as you say there is a perfectly good wood on the other side of the road.
What have you got against self sown trees and shady lanes?
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