Richard Wilson

Ever since I saw the notices on the condemned trees at the bottom of Denton Road (see previous post), I’ve been pressing the Council about what is happening and why.   These are beautiful mature Acacia trees and it would be a shame to lose so many of them at once.

The Council have assured me that the trees will be replaced with new trees in similar locations – 4 planted this winter and 4 next winter.  I’ve asked if any can be saved – but they seem pretty determined to remove them all because of the pavement damage.

However, I’m still very keen to get resident’s views on whether these trees should be removed, and where any replacements should be sited.  At my request, the council officers responsible have agreed to hold a site visit to show residents what is proposed and listen to any concerns.  Please do contact me if you want to take attend – or have a comment.

I was suprised to discover that many of the street trees in Denton Road have been condemned by Haringey Council - as they are apparently damaging the pavements.  The Council hadn’t informed me that this was happening – and I wonder if there was any consultation with residents?

Its obvious that this wasn’t a good tree species to plant on a road:  The pavement by some of the trees has been badly damaged by the roots.  However, the pavement by other trees seems unharmed and I can’t help thinking a less drastic solution is possible.  Perhaps the craggy damaged pavements could be re-tarmaced into a gentle humps over the roots?

I’ve fired off an urgent email to the Council – asking if some of the trees could be saved with some simple action to improve the pavements.  I’ve also asked what will be done to replace any trees that are cut down.  For a street to lose so many of its trees at once would be a great shame - it would make the whole road look much more urban and less green.

Well there is space for quite a lot  more it seems.  On Tuesday night I attended a meeting to decide which of the bids made to this year’s local neighbourhood budget could be progressed.  Two local residents had put in bids for trees in their street – Upper Tollington Park and Quernmore Road.

The Council’s arboriculturalist has found there is space for at least a dozen extra trees on both those roads.  This highlighted to me how badly our area has been neglected since its Victorian heyday.  Many of our local streets have empty tree pits (see picture left from Stapleton Hall Road) and many more tree pits have been tarmaced over.  Apparently, some of these tree pits can never be refilled because wires and pipes have now been placed under them.  The empty pit outside the ‘Instanbul Supermarket’ on Quernmore is an example of this.

So I am really pleased that we were able to approve a small budget for tree planting on these roads.   And our Area Assembly chair Cllr Lyn Weber (Crouch End Ward) was successful in badgering the Council to put in some central funding to plant trees in these roads as well.   With a bit of time we may be able to turn our streets back to the tree-lined avenues they once were.