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Trees sacrificed in town revamp

Tom Rowley
28/ 2/2007

TREE removal will mark the start of makeover plans for Glossop town centre.

But tree lovers should not worry - any loss will be more than made up as part of High Street improvements and the town centre will retain its tree-lined character.

A survey revealed that a section of the sewer on the High Street has been damaged by tree roots and become heavily silted.

It also highlighted problems with connections from the drain in the footway to the sewer in the road.

Derbyshire County Council begins work on Monday to re-lay the culvert ahead of works by regeneration body Glossop Vision for the makeover and will incorporate tree root protection to prevent future damage from new trees.

The two trees causing damage will be removed as well as two other trees in poor condition.

Vision chairman John Hart said: "The reinstatement of street trees has always been a desired option in any High Street design and the outline designs factored in the reinstatement of new trees alongside existing specimens.

"However, arboricultural advice suggests that the two remaining trees already show signs of poor vitality and are in decline.

"It is likely that their removal will become necessary in the next five years.

"Reinstating new trees alongside two existing trees would create an unbalanced section of the high street, and if the remaining trees did fail in future years, then large sections of the improvement works would need to be disrupted to allow for removal."

He added: "Incorporating seven new trees in the design will provide a visually uniform line of trees in the best possible planting conditions which will grow and mature at the same rate."

Town centre improvement plans have been developed into detailed design proposals and include designs for the High Street, railway station forecourt area, Smithy Fold and Market Place.

Architects and engineers are agreeing final details and work is expected to begin in June with completion achieved in phases over 24 weeks.