Council investigating why hundreds of newly planted trees died on Hove seafront
Replacement trees could follow, and the case may even lead to enforcement action
The deaths of hundreds of newly planted trees along Hove seafront are being investigated by Brighton and Hove City Council.
A planning application to plant replacement trees could follow, once the council has worked out how to stop so many dying again.
The case may even lead to enforcement action, although the council was the applicant in the first place.
Part of the £13.7 million seafront revamp
The trees were planted as part of the council's £13.7 million Hove Beach Park revamp.
The work stretches along the seafront from the King Alfred swimming pool and leisure centre to Hove Lagoon.
Questions at the Planning Committee
The issue was raised when the council's Planning Committee met at Hove Town Hall on Wednesday 2nd September.
Green councillor Sue Shanks asked why no new trees had been planted after nearly all of the original ones had died.
She wanted to know what enforcement action was under way to make sure the trees were replanted and cared for as agreed when the original planning application was approved.
Labour councillor Alison Thomson, who chairs the Planning Committee, said the matter was under investigation ahead of a new planning application, but Councillor Shanks was not satisfied with the response.
Councillor Shanks said: "Does that mean that it'll come back and they'll say, 'we don't have to do what we agreed?' Is that what you're saying?
"It was agreed. We always say if something dies within a certain amount of time it has to be replanted and that hasn't happened there."
Council 'can't give details' over possible legal action
Head of planning Nicola Hurley said the council would look at what went wrong with the trees, and a new application would seek to address the findings.
She was not able to give details of any potential enforcement action because the matter could be subject to legal action.
Ms Hurley said: "We can't give you details in a public forum about what we may or may not be doing with the application.
"But since they've indicated they will be remedying this through an application then we would, in the normal course of things, with any enforcement case, wait for the outcome of the application first."