Anger at felling of Bitts Park trees for flood defence bank
Last updated 12:51, Friday, 05 September 2008
Carlisle residents are angered by the felling of trees to make way for city flood defences.
Trees – some up to 100 years old – and shrubs in the section of Bitts Park which runs alongside Castle Way have been cut down to build a flood bank.
Mark Lloyd, 26, a member of Carlisle Friends of the Earth, said: “The reason you get floods in the first place is because of global warming and felling trees contributes to that.
"What is special about Carlisle is it has corridors of green running through the city. We should be preserving a green environment which is important for people’s well-being.”
The work is part of a £37m scheme to protect against floods following the devastation of January 2005.
Ian Watson, 66, of St George’s Crescent, said more should have been done to avoid losing part of one of the area’s best-loved green spaces.
He said: “Surely, someone with a bit of imagination could have made a design for the new dyke where the majority of these very attractive trees could be spared?
“I was very surprised on Sunday when I saw yet more being chopped down. How many are going to be lost?”
A city council spokesman did not say how many trees had been felled but said the equivalent number would be planted after work is complete in October.
He said: “’The city council has worked closely with the Environment Agency with regards the positioning of the flood defences in Bitts Park and Dacre Road.
“A decision was reached after careful consideration to cut back a number of trees to their proportions of 20 years ago and remove a number of others. This decision was made to facilitate the siting of the defences and additionally to open up several of the vistas within the park.
“Once the works have been completed a replanting scheme will also be undertaken to ensure the stock of trees is replenished.”
Mr Watson added: “These were long-established trees, part of Carlisle’s heritage. They must have taken 50 to 100 years to get to that size.”
Well reading the above, yes i can understand peoples concerns but hey if those trees that were felled saved you from flooding do you think they are felled for the right reason, or would you complain more if you were flooded ??? - i cant belive some people the council yes does make some bad ideas but they are trying to work with us and for us as it is the tax payer that pays there wages, i bet those that are complaining would still be complaining if they got flooded and asked what did the city do to help them ..... well a few trees to save a few more homes sounds like a good idea to me ????
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disgraceful carlisle council
Posted by nicky on 6 September 2008 kl. 06:21