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Green fears proved right as poplars are felled

Mismanagement and cover-up evident

21st August 2007

For immediate release

As a row of thirty giant poplar trees is felled on the Wells Road, local Green Party members have condemned the city council for its failure to protect them.

Even though they are subject of tree preservation orders, the trees are being removed urgently because they have been deemed unsafe, with some too weak to stand up to high winds.

Responding to local protests by residents, independent experts were called in to assess the trees' condition last week. They confirmed Green party fears that landscaping work on the adjacent sports fields has damaged the trees roots ^{[Note 1]}. Together with disease in some of the trees, this was sufficient to have them condemned as a safety risk.

Green Party spokesman Peter Goodwin, who lives nearby, believes that council officers failed to protect the trees against the damage done by contractors.

"So far, the council has kept very quiet about its own part in damaging the trees - their press release doesn't even mention the excavations around the roots. "

"There has been a huge investment in the sports ground, to turn it from a normal playing field into a sports commodity, but in spite of all that money they still got it wrong. The loss of these trees is is a very sad day for the area."

-ENDS-

Notes

The report by Silvanus Services Ltd. is at www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=19551033 . The impact of the works on the trees heads their list of factors that make the trees dangerous.

Contacts

Peter Goodwin (Green Party Press Officer), Tel. 01275 543280
Glenn Vowles, Bristol South Green Party, Tel. 0117 971 7023