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Green Liberal Democrats |
Stop Destruction of Our Trees
August 16, 2011 5:12 AM
In only 4 years over two thousand (2066) trees have been removed along our tree lined roads and only a quarter (27%) replanted. Many trees have been lost as a result of strimming, which cuts and remove the bark from the main trunks resulting in disease and a slow death, in particular on verges and green areas adjacent to our roads and footpaths.
At the County Council meeting on Thursday 21st July 2011 Liberal Democrat Councillor for Maidstone North East,Ian Chittenden asked the Cabinet Member responsible for the grass cutting contracts when this destructive practice will be stopped to save what's left of our tree lined roads; but no assurances were given that any action would be taken to save our mature trees.
Ian said "It was bad enough to discover that for 4 years we have only replaced one in four trees lost. But this year KCC will not replace any trees it removes even though it is telling us to plant more trees in our own garden to help protect the environment and Kent's' biodiversity. With no protection and no replacement the situation will rapidly deteriorate; so I have spent thousand pounds of my devolved Highway budget over the past 2 years in replacing trees in my division, money I would rather have spent on improving road safety and other elements of road improvements."
Ian added "New trees had been provided with strimmer guards but mature trees have no protection. I have now asked the cabinet member to investigate options to provide guards to prevent damage and premature loss of these trees extending the lifespan of all trees and substantially reducing the cost of removing them which could be used to fund replacement of the trees lost."
Notes for Editors:
Full Question & Answer available http://kentlibdems.org.uk/en/page/county-council-questions
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Trees felled by KCC in the last 4 years |
2066 |
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Total replaced in the last 4 years |
562 (27%) |
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Number of stumps left in |
844 |
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