COUNCIL URGED NOT TO CUT DOWN TREES ON LYMINGTON ROAD

3.03.23pm GMT Thu 7th Jan 2010

At the Transportation Working party on Friday (8th January), Tormohun Ward Councillor Jenny Faulkner will be speaking against the proposal to cut down the trees on Lymington Road in Torquay.

The recommendation in the report to the Transportation Working Party is to remove 11 of the 19 Lime Trees that line Lymington Road. A second option is to remove 8 of the trees.

Councillor Faulkner said, "The council under the current Conservative administration seems to have a fixation with cutting down trees. Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats in June revealed that since May 2007 , the administration have removed 733 trees and planted only 62.

"Cutting down 11 of the 19 trees along Lymington Road would completely spoil the character of this part of Torquay and would make entering Torquay a less pleasant experience for tourists and residents alike. In fact it would be an act of environmental vandalism.

"These trees are also an important part of the environment, which help reduce C02 emissions into the atmosphere.

"I am sure that adequate signs advising pedestrians of the narrowing of the pavement as a result of the trees would help mitigate any claims against public liability should there be any accidents along the road. After all, it is not as if the trees are a new problem - they have been there for a very long time."