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[Flyingshop]

I just read the below on the council website here:

http://www.welhat.gov.uk/environmentplanning/news/fellingandreplacementplantingoflombardypoplars

Suddenly all those trees in the car parks that have been there for a long as I can remember are for the chop, yet more health and safety madness and litigation fears no doubt. I'll certainly be going to that meeting on August 7th, although like most things i'm sure its a done deal and any consultation will be illusory.

From the website:

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Finesse Leisure will be working together to remove and replant trees in the car parks at Stanborough Park. The felling of the trees is proposed to take place in September 2008. Your views are welcome on this and should you have any concerns or questions, a public meeting will be held at Stanborough Lakes on Thursday 7 August at 6.30pm.

This initiative follows an independent report commissioned recently which warned that, particularly in high winds, there would be a high risk of branches breaking and causing damage to people or property if nothing was done. As a consequence the council, in partnership with Finesse Leisure Partnership, who manage the site on the council’s behalf, has decided to remove the trees. These will be replanted in both car parks, enriching the landscape with a range of trees that will have a longer life span and be more suitable for a well used public cark park.

In order to minimise the risk to people and cars, felling must take place before the start of winter and the likelihood of high winds, which is why September has been proposed.

The remaining stumps of the Lombardy poplar trees will need to be treated before being removed, so it is anticipated that treated stumps will be left in situ over the summer of 2009. Stump removal and cultivation of the ground in the two car parks is proposed for autumn 2009 with re-planting undertaken during the winter season of 2009-2010.

A mix of trees, including some Lombardy poplars, and hedgerow plants have been suggested for the replanting phase.  The trees to make a visual impact on the valley and the hedgerows to provide ground level screening to break up the impact of a large car park in a park land setting.

Further information and the list of species being considered for planning will be available at the public meeting on 7 August. The meeting will be located near the South (Watersports) car park of Stanborough Lakes.

If you cannot attend but would still like to submit comments, please do so, no later than Friday 8 August by writing to Finesse Leisure Partnership, 4th Floor, Campus West, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6BX.

[mythoughts]

This is sheer, sheer madness. These trees can be trimmed if need be.  If the council tried this one along Parkway the residents, not known for revolutionary tactics, would be tying themselves to the their trees - they'd be livid!

A real issue, however, at Stanborough Lakes is the disgusting eutrophication of the boating lakes - toxic to wildlife.  Solving this problem is where OUR money should be spent, not on chopping down trees in case a branch might fall on a car. We are a GARDEN CITY FOR GOD'S SAKE.

Next thing you know, these trees will be blamed for the supposed subsidence of Splashland...

[finely tuned]

In the many years myself and family have lived in the area there has been a decline in the appearance of both Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield.

With unkept verges, more weeds than flowers especially around the alleyways and the ever decreasing number of trees. This has led to a decreasing volume of wildlife in the area.

Such a shame my children will not enjoy the surroundings as much as i did when i grew up.

ft

[George]

This is sheer, sheer madness. These trees can be trimmed if need be. 

I agree. The Council should employ people who have a basic liking for trees, rather than an apparent hatred of them, and obsession for cutting down as many as possible. I simply can't believe what I'm reading here. It's a disgrace. The huge fines which apply to other aspects of environmental damage should apply (criminal prosecutions) to the individual Council employees, if this goes ahead.

[Flyingshop]

 I wonder if Oaklands College run a short course on Tree Hugging?

See here for a couple of pictures of what will be lost if this goes ahead:

www.welwynhatfield.co.uk/stanboroughtrees

[Slam]

Totally opposed to this plan.  If I park under a creaking tree in high winds, I am aware of the small risk that poses.  At the very worst, a sign could be erected to that effect!  All it takes is a little common-sense; which it appears we are trying to eradicate from society at the moment. 

I'd like to see that the company commissioned to do the tree-felling, isn't the same one that did the consultation...  Or perhaps I should post this along with the contrials and 7/7 threads.

Although we now live in a litigeous society, I would really prefer my council tax to be spent on local service etc, rather than consultancy fees on making something that wasn't a problem, 'safer'.

Slam.

[Flyingshop]

I was just talking to a neighbour about this, she made two good observations:

1) This meeting is scheduled for the week when very many people will be out of town on holiday.
2) The trees also act as something of a noise barrier from the A1M. Without them the Lakes will be even more noise polluted than they are already and therefore a less attractive public amenity.

[mythoughts]

Oh my God, the noise after these have gone would be terrible...I never thought of that. Right, see you at the meeting! Tree shall not be moved!

[jonnyw]

I'll be there too, this is downright idiotic.

[finely tuned]

If the trees are removed and replanting done are they going to keep the rows of trees or expand the parking spaces at the expence of trees?
I honestly believe the council has better things to spend money on than the removal of trees that have been there for years.
As has already been posted simple signage would suffice. If i left my car under a tree and a branch fell and hit it or me then surely thats just a unlucky act of nature?

ft

[jonmorris]

Is there really any point in going to the meeting? We all know that they've made their decision and the meeting is just a waste of more money.

Sorry, but I really don't have any faith in democracy anymore.

[George]

Is there really any point in going to the meeting?

I think there is, if only to vent our anger and disgust. How they can keep a straight face about calling a public meeting when the decision appears to already have been taken, I do not know. I went to look at the trees this evening and they all appear perfectly healthy.

I've always voted Conservative before but this is really making me think that perhaps I'll switch to voting for the Green Party.  I'll dig out some claims (quotes) later today of how the local Tories claimed to stand for the environment and then they go and do this. I hope Labour take note and mention it at the time of the next elections.

I think there are lots of Poplars in France, in towns and along many roads. They look great. In theory they could fall on cars, but the French don't cut them down. It's a real low point for Welwyn Garden City - a needless and pointless waste of life.

How did the trees come to be condemned? Perhaps the contractors saw all those trees - there must be hundreds of them - and knew there was a huge business opportunity if they are all felled at hundreds/thousands of pounds a time, so they put it to the Council and bingo, the Council fell for it.

[mythoughts]

Good point George...I mean, it does make the logo ironic:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b6/Conservative_logo_2006.svg/768px-Conservative_logo_2006.svg.png


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3792556.ece

[Slam]

Pretty sure this will be universally opposed by residents of both towns (as it effectively borders both).

Can our MP lend some weight to the opposition of this ongoing campaign by the council to rid the borough of trees?

For the first time in a long while, I recently drove along the road between the Comet and UH roundabout - which used to be a pleasent tree-lined route.  It's a disaster if this is the future.

Slam.

[wizard456]

leave the bl**** trees alone trim them thats all they need sort out your rat problem first !!!!!!

the rats at the lakes are worse (water voles) or rats as normal people call them  are getting out of hand they are also all the way along the cycle track

myself and a freind were taking the kids to goslin along that trak on thurs and there were about 20 rats down there and big holes in the bank that they were running in and out of

one man on a bike nearlly had an accident because he was as shiked as us about the number of rats just sitting there in the sun