Wokingham

Residents of Finchampstead are being asked to suggest replacement trees as Wokingham District Council carries out work to remove some potentially unsafe trees at the junction of Church Lane/Jubilee Road.

Five Grey Poplar trees on the Wokingham highway verge will be removed next week (Monday July 31 to Friday August 4) because of significant decay and the potential risk to public safety. Whilst the trees appear to be outwardly healthy, they are decaying within their bases and trunks and could collapse during high winds.

Wokingham Council tree officers have been monitoring the trees’ condition over the past 18 months, undertaking several inspections, more particularly in May when a crown of one of the trees began to break up. A recent inspection by an independent tree consultant confirmed the poor condition of the trees and the risk they pose to public safety.

The trees will be felled in a safe and controlled manner by council contractors with road closures in place to protect people and vehicles during the work. Church Lane will be closed to vehicles throughout the work from Monday July 31 to Friday August 4, whilst Jubilee Road will be subject to closure on Thursday August 3 and Friday August 4. Access for Wokingham residents will be maintained but diversion routes will be in place for all other traffic.

Wokingham council intends to plant new trees in the next planting season (November to March) and is asking local residents for suggestions for suitable replacements. Anyone wishing to suggest a particular species of tree is invited to email treesandlandscape@wokingham.gov.uk or write to Tree and Landscape Team, Environment Services, Wokingham District Council, PO Box 153, RG40 1WL.

Executive member for environment Wokingham Cllr Simon Weeks said: “It is always with considerable regret that we have to remove established trees, but public safety has to be of paramount importance.

“I hope that Finchampstead residents will take up this opportunity to suggest trees that they would like to see planted to replace the decayed Poplars and look forward to later in the year when we can see the new trees in situ.”

Local residents and Finchampstead Parish Council have been informed of the work and site notices are also in place.

Wokingham District Council