Tree on roundabout

As promised at last week's Ward Committee meeting, following concerns raised over the proposal to remove one of the trees on the Green, I arranged a meeting for last Thursday morning. Cllr Harmer, Cllr Stacey and the LD MP John Hemming all met Nick Barton, the tree specialist from Amey. Sadly, Julia Larden of the Acocks Green Focus Group couldn't make it, as she is away on holiday, but I asked her in advance for questions and also gave her a telephone call from the Green to give her a chance to put her points directly to Nick and the others present.

The photo shows the problem. The tree in question is leaning over the road and does show signs of damage to the trunk where it has clearly been hit by vehicles - although nothing recent. The tree's presence pushes larger vehicles out to the left hand side of the inside lane on the roundabout and there is always the risk that a driver unfamiliar with the layout of the Green could wind up hitting the tree. If the driver was "making lawful use of the highway", then now the council is aware of the problem, there is no defence to an insurance claim, leaving the council liable for the full cost of repairs to a damaged vehicle. Worse, there is always the potential for a collision to cause injury, putting any financial loss into the shade. Given that this is an A road, with junctions with two major B roads and a major route into the city centre, the risk of collision is significantly higher than a similar tree on a residential road not often used by goods vehicles.

Birmingham is very sensitive to this - and rightly so - since a fatality in Kings Heath a few years ago and the A38M case which saw a council officer facing trial over the death of a motorcyclist who had hit a drain on the Expressway.

There is a clear problem - so can anything be done to save the tree by changing the island layout? It would be possible to change the original line of the Green to create some additional space for grass, but that would change the road alignment and would actually need to run for about 30 metres before the tree to adjust the line of traffic smoothly. Added to that, the works would be carried out over the tree roots themselves, risking damage and possibly dooming the tree anyway. The work would not be cheap - with costs suggested of over £30,000.

Nick made the point that the tree wasn't put in the right spot in the first place - it was planted too close to the kerb. It is also not a great street tree - horse chestnuts are better suited to parks and this one would have thrived in a more central spot on the Green. There is also the risk that the tree will contract bleeding canker that has already killed a horse chestnut on Henbury Road.

The good news - and there is good news - is that the tree will be replaced by two new ones, better located on the Green itself and that the new planting should be completed this winter as part of the normal planting season. Amey don't use saplings, they plant trees that are about two years old. I'm sorry to see this tree go, but we have been able to get something more out of it.

Tree Removals for Acocks Green

Two tree removals slated for the ward:

Opposite 920 Stockfield Road - structural integrity
Opposite Inn on the Green - highway obstruction

The axeman cometh

Amey have provided a new list of trees for removal over the next month.

That's a fair few.

And in at least one case, the notice has gone up BEFORE councillors have been notified. It also contains the statement that we have been consulted and have given approval for these removals.

I have insisted that this is corrected, as it was supposed to be the last time it was used.

Location			Site Name	Reason for removal
	outside 141	SEVERNE ROAD			Decay
	outside 126	CHAUCER GROVE			Structural Integrity
	outside265	GOSPEL LANE			Structural Integrity
	outside 282	SHIRLEY ROAD			Decay
	outside 272	SHIRLEY ROAD			Decay
	outside 229	GOSPEL LANE			Highway Obstruction
	outside 67	LULWORTH ROAD			Structural Integrity
	side of 999 map required	FOX HOLLIES ROAD			Structural Integrity
	outside 24	LULWORTH ROAD			Highway Obstruction
	outside 2	NORTHANGER ROAD			Decay
	outside 31	ROYDON ROAD			Decay
	outside 52	POOL FARM ROAD			Structural Integrity
	outside 195	SEVERNE ROAD			Decay
	outside 520	GOSPEL LANE			Structural Integrity
	outside 112-114	GOSPEL FARM ROAD			New Planting Vandalised
	outside 251-253	GOSPEL LANE			Dead
	outside 301	FOX HOLLIES ROAD			Structural Integrity
	outside 4	WESTFIELD ROAD			Structural Integrity
	outside 155	CIRCULAR ROAD			Structural Integrity
	outside 361	GOSPEL LANE			Decay
	outside 247-249	GOSPEL LANE			Structural Integrity
	outside 14	ROYDON ROAD			Decay
	outside 289	GOSPEL LANE			Structural Integrity
	outside 435	FOX HOLLIES ROAD			Decay
	outside 71	GREENWOOD AVENUE			Decay
	outside 71,73	GOSPEL FARM ROAD			New Planting Vandalised
	outside 48	WOODFORD GREEN ROAD			Structural Integrity
	side of 467	FOX HOLLIES ROAD			Decay
	outside 4	POOL FARM ROAD			Structural Integrity
	outside 30,32	GLAISDALE ROAD			Decay
	right of 1291 Warwick Road	OLTON BOULEVARD EAST			Structural Integrity
	outside 186	TAVISTOCK ROAD			Decay
	outside 257	GOSPEL LANE			Structural Integrity
	outside 77	NAILSTONE CRESCENT			Decay
	outside 1005-1007	WARWICK ROAD			Structural Integrity
	opposite 28	SUMMER ROAD			Decay
	opposite 3	GREENWOOD AVENUE			Decay
	side of 50	THORNFIELD ROAD			Structural Integrity
	outside 261	GOSPEL LANE			Structural Integrity
	outside 221	GOSPEL LANE			Structural Integrity
	outside 16	TAVISTOCK ROAD			Decay
	outside 475	FOX HOLLIES ROAD			Decay
	side of 90	GOSPEL FARM ROAD			Decay
	opposite 912 Warwick Road	STOCKFIELD ROAD			Dead
	outside 95,97	GOSPEL FARM ROAD			New Planting Vandalised
	outside 24	ROYDON ROAD			Decay
	outside 121	ARDEN ROAD			Structural Integrity
	outside 34	BLOSSOMVILLE WAY			Damage to Structures
	outside 312,314	FOX HOLLIES ROAD			Dead
	outside 7	FIELDHEAD ROAD			Decay
	outside 28	DOLPHIN LANE			Decay

Arden Road Residents Association and street trees

Stewart and I were both kindly invited to the AGM of the Arden Road Residents' Association last week - well worth a visit for the quality of the cakes on offer.

There were the usual items of business - chair's report and the election of a new committee - plus welcoming two new volunteers to the Neighbourhood Watch, which was to the fore following a spate of burglaries in the area. Hopefully, various police actions have put a stop to that, with suspected offenders being targetted and arrests made.

We also had a thorough discussion about street trees, which are of great importance to the residents. In particular, there was a discussion about the tree at 61 Arden Road, which is leaning slightly into the highway. Although Stewart and I only had short notice of the meeting, we managed to arrange for an Amey tree specialist to attend and discuss the general issues. Along with an earlier site meeting that we arranged to look at a number of trees scheduled for removal across the ward, we had a full discussion of the issues around tree removal and replacement and the management of the Birmingham Street Forest.

There are a couple of points to note - Amey haven't been great previously about replacing trees exactly where they had been removed, but we now have assurances that they have improved their tracking system so that they intend to replace any removed tree with a fresh planting in the same ward. The first priority will be to replace in the same spot, but not all tree pits are suitable for re-use - the location might be the cause of the removal, if the tree is in the way of a dropped kerb, or the pit might be infested with underground pipework and cabling. Second option is a neighbouring pit close by - on the same road or one adjoining and the final option is to use an empty pit somewhere else in the ward.

I'm tracking the tree removals, so I will be making sure that this is exactly what happens - I like to see promises being kept!

The tree at 61 does show signs of damage, roughly where you would expect the edge of a removal van or a box van, for example and it does lean into the road. This means that if a driver "making lawful use of the highway" hits the tree, then there is little defence to an insurance claim, as Amey are aware of the problem and it could be claimed that they had done nothing to resolve it. As the officer pointed out, they have had trees knocked over completely by buses and they do see damage on similar trees caused by vehicle impact. While the probability may be low, there is definitely a risk. We're still trying to find a cost-effective way around the problem. Should the tree end up being removed, then it is unlikely that it would be replaced in the same spot, but when I went to the site with another officer from Amey, he spotted a grass verge about 20m away that might prove suitable.

Amey don't want to remove trees. Their tree officers don't fall into the career by accident - they love trees and have a tremendous knowledge of their subject. There's also no financial reason to remove a tree. When you add up the costs of felling, stump removal, replacement of the tree and a three year watering programme to establish it, there's no change out of about £3000. Maintenance of an existing tree over the same three or four year period works out to under £50 on average.

We have 19 trees scheduled for removal in Acocks Green and following some concern from residents at this unusually high number, I arranged for a senior Amey specialist to come along and give another opinion on the reasons for their removal. We spent most of the morning looking at over a quarter of the trees planned for removal and it was an education. He pointed out the decay on a tree on Malvern Road and explained why the horse chestnuts on Hanbury Road have to come out - some have simply outgrown their location and another has bleeding canker which will kill the tree.

As a result of that visit, a number of corrections to the notices should have been made. In particular, the contact details need to be updated and there's also a statement that "your local councillors have agreed to the removal," which isn't quite correct. We're told about it, but not asked to approve or reject removals.

Replacement trees are ordered in June each year, for delivery in early winter to allow planting over the winter period. Any tree removed prior to June should be replaced later on that year, but any tree removed afterwards will be replaced as part of the following year's planting. Amey buy the most established young trees that they can, to give them the best chance of surviving the tough conditions that a street tree faces.

We're lucky in Birmingham to have such a green street scene - any view from above shows a mass of green - and we have over 70,000 trees adorning our streets. They are still divisive, however. I can easily find residents who would take an axe to a tree outside their home given half a chance, as well as plenty who love the trees.

Tree growth to be tackled

The trees have been busy and along a number of roads in the ward, the "epicormic growth" has been sprouting at a tremendous rate, so that it is now obstructing some of the footpaths (Elmdon Road is shown to the left).

I've been in touch with Amey and their contractors will be dealing with this by the end of July.

Street trees on Olton Boulevard East

Following complaints from residents about the tree growth in Olton Boulevard East, I arranged a site meeting  this week with Amey's trees officer and the local highway steward to discuss what has been done and what needs to be done. They have confirmed that pruning is urgently required to the street trees along the length from Victoria Road down to the junction with the Warwick Road/Gospel Lane. This should have been done, but was reported as complete thanks to an administrative error. It should be completed over the next four weeks or so - weather permitting. We also checked on a bush on the corner of Anson Grove, which has been reported as obstructing the view of drivers - this bush was actually the remains of a tree which should have been properly removed some time ago. It has now been hacked back and the stump will be removed in due course.

The trees along here will be pruned up to a height of about 6m and will have basal growth removed.

It was a particularly interesting meeting from the point of view of somebody whose gardening knowledge is limited, to say the least. The old policy of pollarding trees of a certain age has now been replaced by one where the overall tree shape will be maintained, but this is only carried out as required - probably every 15 years or so. Pollarding actually leads to more aggressive growth and leaf fall and attracts more aphids. More regular maintenance involves controlling the basal growth - the sprouting around the base of the trunk - and lifting the crown (which will be done to the trees on Olton Boulevard). This removes the lower levels of branches and twigs to give improved ground clearance. Trees will also be dealt with where they are threatening to damage property, but they are not pruned for light reasons or to improve television reception for properties behind the trees.

The Amey contract has also led to considerably greater clarity about what species of trees can be used on the highway and where they can be planted. Large central reservations will be planted with a range of trees, but traditional street trees will be restricted to a small number of species that are suitable. As it is contractual, it is also binding on developers, so trees that exhibit 'antisocial behaviour' in terms of other residents or road users can be properly controlled.