Islington Tribune - News: Town hall

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 5 October 2007

Emma Dixon

‘Spare that tree’ plea as axe falls on 1,500

‘We replace more than we fell,’ Town Hall insists

A CALL for Islington’s oldest and best-loved trees to be protected was made this week after it emerged that the numbers axed in the borough are among the highest in London.
More than 1,500 trees have been chopped down in the past five years, and many replaced with saplings, Green Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Islington North Emma Dixon has claimed.
The figures were published in a report from the London Assembly.
Ms Dixon is calling on the council to reconsider its approach to tree felling, and to prosecute developers which are quick to wield the axe.
“The council is planting more trees than they cut down but they are cutting down mature trees that may be 100 years old or more and replacing them with spindly saplings,” Ms Dixon said.
“These are more often ornamental varieties like rowans, which are much smaller and usually have a much shorter life span.”
She claimed that Islington does not have even one ancient tree – classified as such if three adults are unable to hug it.
Ms Dixon added: “We don’t want mature trees to be cut down on spurious grounds. We certainly don’t want them to be cut down on the basis that they are old and will die one day.
“The only reasons that are good is that they are a clear and present danger to life and limb or that they are terminally diseased. Mature trees threatened with the chop should be X-rayed first.”
Lib Dem leisure chief Councillor Ruth Polling, who is in charge of parks and gardens, said: “I share residents’ concerns, which is why we don’t cut down healthy trees just because they are old.
“I can’t think of a single case in the last year where we’ve taken down a 100-year-old tree that wasn’t dead, dying or diseased. We have several trees which are over 200 years old and will continue to be protected by our preservation policies.”
She said the council X-rayed large mature trees with visible stem decay before deciding if they should be removed.
Cllr Polling added: “We replace more trees than we fell. There are thousands of trees in the borough – some planted on private land and some planted by us.
“We do our best within the planning process to protect as many of these as possible and we will take enforcement action where our trees are removed without permission.
“We use tree preservation orders in some cases to protect privately-owned trees of significant historical importance.”

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your Comments: