Ealing Council's Record on Trees is Not Great
Liberal Democrat councillor Connie Hersch says a target for planting is not enough
Connie Hersch
As a new Councillor from the May local elections, I am proud that Ealing Council agreed with the Liberal Democrat motion that we are in a Climate Crisis.
Ealing Labour-run Council promises 10 new parks and 50,000 new trees in its Council plan. This is a fantastic promise and who doesn’t like trees and parks and the positive impact on the climate.
What could possibly go wrong? All the council needs to do is find the right places, buy trees and have them planted.
Right? But this is only the start of the work.
Trees need looking after and this is where the council’s track record is not great, given all the complaints we have received from residents: unpruned trees, basal growth (which is growth at the base of trees) blocking pavements, big trees growing on to houses and gardens, trees being pruned at the wrong time, young trees which are not watered during the summer and die, missing trees not be replaced at the roadside and tree roots causing subsidence in people’s homes.
As a result, the house foundations may move or subside causing severe damage to properties.
We have seen multiple contractors dealing with our trees as the Council has failed to properly manage the contractors, having to sack them. One contractor lied to the Council about which trees had been pruned meaning they were taking tax-payer’s money without doing the job properly.
Increased capacity to the tree service is needed now and would need be significant for additional 50,000 trees to thrive and grow. To make Ealing even greener is a target the Liberal Democrats whole heartedly support but we need the Council to have the capacity to look after the trees whether they are in parks, on the roadside or in rewilded areas.
I keenly awaiting the plans!
Connie Hersch – Liberal Democrat Councillor for Ealing Common
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October 20, 2022