Tree replacement depends on "type and planting system"

Thursday 10 May 2018

The final decision to replace two trees removed from the bottom of St Julian's Avenue falls to Traffic & Highway Services, but the sub-committee of Environment & Infrastructure are already in talks about how to do so.

The two trees were removed because their minimum height was too low, and they were posing a threat to large vehicles using the road, with one of them having been hit by a lorry.

Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services, another States part of E&I, said it was already in talks with Traffic & Highway Services about replacing the trees, but "before any final decision is made we have to consider tree selection and planning system to ensure damage to pavements and infrastructure is minimised and how it would be funded".

In total, five trees were identified as having trunks which potentially contravened with the law, but the decision was made to only fell two.

Deputy Neil Inder raised questions regarding the move to the related committee - in a responding statement, a T&HS spokesperson said: "The St Peter Port Constables brought to Traffic & Highway Services' attention that several of the trees in St Julians's Avenue did not satisfy the minimum height above the road specified by law. This was highlighted after one was hit by a lorry and other hit marks were visible on the trees.

"Professional advice was sought from an arboriculturalist before making a decision as Traffic & Highway Services is extremely conscious of the sensitivity of cutting down trees and wants to avoid doing it." 

It was explained to Deputy Inder that it was not the branches that were bing hit by the high sided vehicles but rather the trunk itself, and that combined with the fact a disproportionate amount of the tree's weight was over the road left felling the trees as one of the only realistic options.

"Most of the challenges we face with trees in the highway today are the legacy of ill-thought-out planting in the past. In some cases, trees have been planted, inspired by Capability Brown, that are suitable for the avenues of great houses but as they could grow in excess of 3m in diameter they are not suitable for a Guernsey street. We also have trees in small pits that are too small or with no root containment structures. Some of the trees also do not thrive on busy roads. This has led to a number of trees becoming diseased or dying off in the past decade," the T&HS spokesperson continued.

"It is hoped that in due course more trees can be planted along the Avenue. However, careful thought is needed when growing trees to ensure they thrive alongside people and vehicles. Any new trees need to be the right species and would need to be established trees and this drives the cost up. St Julian’s Avenue also presents some infrastructure issues that mean the re-planting of trees is not straightforward. For example many of the existing pits are also too small for trees and there is now also a huge amount of utility cables and pipes under St Julian’s Avenue.

"Trees have a finite existence and so losing trees and replacing them with new ones is part of the course."