Reprieve for trees (From Stroud News and Journal)

Reprieve for trees

MATURE Sycamore trees on death row have been granted a reprieve after residents intervened on their behalf.

Around 20 trees by the railway track on Butterow Hill in Bowbridge were about to be axed by sub-contractors Tilhill, working on behalf of Network Rail.

However, furious residents stormed the gallows, contacting press and local councillors in an effort to save them from the chop.

Despite being in a conservation area, the trees are on land owned by Network Rail, who have a statutory right to remove any object that is a threat to health and safety.

But residents are concerned that cutting down the trees in the middle of the nesting season will be disastrous for wildlife on the site.

Engineer Peter Bolger, of nearby Lyle Cottage in Bowbridge, said: "We are talking about 40-50 year old mature Sycamore trees in a high profile position.

"The tourists come through this area and they want to see the beauty of it.

"The contractors claimed they handed out notices about this to residents but I haven't met anyone who has seen one."

"I have contacted Network Rail to ask them to put a stop to this."

His wife Sarah Bolger said: "The wildlife here is phenomenal. Take the big trees down and you mix up the biodiversity."

Cllr John Marjoram said: "What we are looking for will be a compromise situation. It will be a crown reduction, which means the top of the trees.

"Some of them are clearly diseased and will have to be removed, but not all of them.

"I feel that no-one was informed that this was going to happen so it does create a sort of anxiety and annoyance."

Tilhill workers said that an ecology report had been undertaken on the site, but that they would await further instruction from Network Rail before chopping down the Sycamores.

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said the trees represented a health and safety risk, adding: "There is quite a lot of leaf fall in that area which affects the adhesion of trains to the rails.

"It is almost like black ice when they get wet.

"We have consulted with the council about it and taken them around the site.

"Because of the complaints that have come in we have decided to stop work there and assess it with a view to recommencing in August."