Threat to our urban trees: we must act now

This tree in the photo in Mathews Way, Paganhill was chopped down - it was an exceptionally beautiful cherry tree and I understand off-road parking is being planned. I do not for one moment want to question the owners of the properties who are apparently seeking to create off-road parking. However I have deep concerns about the way this tree was lost and the system which allows it - and indeed appears to be contributing to the loss of many thousands of trees countrywide.

This cherry tree wasn't subject to a tree preservation order, and was growing outside the Conservation area. Thus, no consent from Stroud District Council was needed. I have already written several emails re this tree trying to understand how it could happen. It would appear that it is for the County Council to decide so I have written again to them and copied the letter more widely.

I pointed out the many benefits trees bring (see below) including research that has found that crime rates and domestic violence are reduced by as much as 50% in urban areas with a high proportion of trees. Here is an extract from my letter:

I know that many in the Council are committed to improving our local environment but the loss of this tree is in my view significant in an area that is already fairly bleak. I have had three angry residents contact me and I personally am also shocked to see the loss of this beautiful tree. There is also the issue that parking for those in houses is being favoured over those living in flats as fewer on road parking places are to be found.

1. Why was it sanctioned? Who gave permission? Why was there no consultation with residents? Why was a replacement not required? What policies currently exist re this issue?

The national press have recently reminded us of the value of urban trees and the considerable losses in many areas (some info enclosed below). Harrow for example has lost 5,000 street trees over the past five years and has only replanted about 1,750, leaving a total of 16,000. I understand an inquiry by the Greater London authority will next month report on what it calls the "chainsaw massacre" of the capital's seven million trees.

2. What is the position in Gloucestershire? Do we keep account of tree loss? There are many challenges facing our trees - supersized lorries, utility companies digging up roots, mobile-phone companies and CCTV operators demanding they are trimmed back, insurers claiming they are causing building subsidence and more. Tree-friendly design such as bundling cables and facilities into modern service tunnels is still not part of many urban developments. Concerns about large trees in urban areas has also caused tree officers to tend towards planting more 'lollipop-type' trees yet the larger trees are the ones with more benefits. How best can we ensure that we are improving the situation?

I await replies with interest - in addition to reduced crime rates and domestic violence trees bring many other benefits:

"The urban forest is a multi-million pound asset in its ability to soak up pollution and moderate the climate. It is a national asset that we really need to protect."
Mark Johnston, lead researcher of Trees in Towns 2, a huge government-funded study looking at the management of urban trees that will be published later this summer.

- New York's parks department concluded that its street trees provided an annual benefit of about $122m (£61m), with the city receiving $5.60 in benefits for every dollar spent on trees. Other studies in the US and the UK have established the value of tree-lined streets, with mature trees adding up to 18% to the value of homes, according to Trees for Cities.

- Studies in the US have found urban trees have a real benefit on our lives, not only by providing cleaner air, noise reduction, flash-flood protection and shade. Trees enhance emotional and physical wellbeing. Urban residents suffering from stress have been shown to experience less anxiety when they have a view of trees; physical signs of stress such as pulse rates and muscle tension reduce within four minutes of a stressed person moving into leafy surroundings, according to the behavioural scientist Roger Ulrich.

- Trees can save up to 10% of energy consumption through their moderation of the local climate.

- Trees have a positive impact on the incidence of asthma, skin cancer and stress related illness by filtering out polluted air, reducing smog formation, shading out solar radiation and by providing an attractive, calming setting for recreation.

- Research shows commercial clients are "increasingly enthusiastic" about incorporating trees around new buildings because the economic benefits are increasingly obvious.

So what do we need?

I would like to see a policy developed across the County to ensure we are not loosing trees and that all new developments take these issues into account. There also seems to be considerable evidence that we need tougher laws to protect mature trees from being scapegoated by the insurance industry.

I think Graham Simmonds of Trees for Cities, an independent charity is also right when he says: "Everyone thinks trees are a good thing. There's an impact on global warming, they beautify the city, they are good for our health - and yet forces are conspiring against urban trees." He considers that local authorities are oversensitive to complaints. "They overreact to anyone who gives them a bit of grief. In our experience most people are very, very warm about trees and want them around their property but they want the right species - they don't want ones that give subsidence problems or shade their house. In our view many local authorities cave in rather quickly and just take the tree out."

Blog readers will know that I have raised the issue of verge-side trees in the past (click 'Label' link below - I was assured of better consultation. This is sadly another example where residents views have not been consulted. As a District councillor it is frustrating not to be able to chapion this at a full County Council meeting - I am sure we could develop cross-party support for action if they knew of the potential benefits of our urban trees.