Calls for tree felling in Cotswolds after man seriously injured
Residents are calling for “dangerous” trees to be removed from the side of two roads near Bourton-on-the-Water.
A man was left seriously injured and a woman is “lucky to be alive” as a result of falling trees along the A436 and A429.
Around 100 trees fell in recent stormy weather causing damage to properties and cars and residents are calling for tree felling to ensure their safety.
Residents Andrew Vaughan and Paul Clark called on highways bosses this week to ensure trees are chopped down before they cause a tragedy.
Residents say trees have been leaning and breaking due to Storm Eowyn on January 25.
Andrew Vaughan said: “Speaking with Tim Bird, Gloucestershire tree surveyor in December after the initial trees had been cleared, he stated this disaster should never have been allowed to happen.
“The landowners have clearly had enough time to make suitable arrangements to remove all trees and tidy up.
“Every day no action is taken residents of Old Gloucester Road and anyone driving along the A436 and A429, especially during high winds, are risking their lives and fatalities/serious injury and further disruption for residents may unfortunately be inevitable.”
And Paul Clark said it was alarming the County Council was “showing no sense of urgency” over the matter.
“Across the road, there is the most awful mess but, far more importantly, there is a terrible risk to life and limb.
“There are some very tall trees in the second row that in another high wind could easily come down on the A436 like happened on December 7, especially as their shallow roots have been weakened. In fact, two did come down in the storm a few days ago.
“Previously, it was most fortunate that nobody was killed but, with the landowners trying to absolve themselves of responsibility, I dread to think what could happen next time.”
Cotswold Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, who represents the area, has brought the issue to the County Council attention and said urgent action needs to be taken.
“I am backing residents who are very worried about the risk which some of the trees still pose.
“When I took a close look at the damage recently I was really disturbed to see how fragile the remaining trees look.
“They have shallow roots and are particularly vulnerable to the next storm we get.
“Those trees which are at risk of falling need to be taken down urgently – not next month but right now. Anything else risks the well being and property of local people.”
County Council leader Stephen Davies said the authority has been in regular contact with the landowner since December.
And he expects work to fell the trees will be undertaken promptly as the Forestry Commission are currently processing a felling licence.
“We have been in regular contact with the landowner since the original incident in December,” he said.
“The landowner has engaged positively with us and confirmed that the Forestry Commission are processing their felling licence promptly.
“They have confirmed that they have undertaken their own surveys to prioritise felling and their contractors are pricing and planning the works. On this basis we expect works to be undertaken promptly.