We have received a letter from the Council that the last tree in
the Beanfield Avenue opposite Medland Avenue is to be cut, as it is
deemed hazardous for the passing buses. This tree is opposite the
houses numbered 87 and 89 Beanfield Avenue. My wife and I reside in
this street.
This tree is no further overhanging into the road than any other
tree along the Beanfield Ave. We can provide overhang measurements
that compare to a significant number of the trees further up this
road. This tree has less span and overhang. The slope of the road
near the tree is also so little that the argument for buses tilting
towards the tree is unfounded.
The trees in Beanfield Ave are pruned every 5 years by the council
to ensure that they do not impede the traffic as well as limiting
the tree root system growth. The pruning is now overdue.
The council has proposed to cut the tree and replace it with a
small tree. This itself is problematic, removing the tree stump and
making the spot good and wide for the root growth of the new tree
is pretty complex. Most likely scenario is that in order to avoid
damage to surrounding tarmac, workers would remove the stump of the
cut tree, (some 45cm in diameter), place the new tree in a small
root space surrounded by woody roots of the old tree, thus leaving
the tree to wither and die (similar disastrous exercise can visibly
seen in the Woodside Ave South).
We understand the background for the letter from the Council.
Normally there are no cars parked under this tree and as it is near
the T-junction of Beanfield Ave and Medland Ave. Bus drivers
naturally pull closer to the curb for the safety against oncoming
or corner traffic at this T-junction. A faster passing bus and may
be driving with lesser care and attention could result in the bus
coming close to the low rising curb, part mount it and in due
course upper deck to scratch part of the upper trunk.
This tree provides strong privacy for our houses right across the
street. They date back to pre-war when the houses in the upper half
of Beanfield Ave were built. A new tree (if it survives) would take
decades to grow and in the meantime environmental and green spaces
are further eroded.
This ePetition ran from 22/08/2021 to 21/10/2021 and has now finished.
170 people signed this ePetition.