7th December 2007, 07/429
Tree works launched across the district
To ensure that West Lancashire remains a garden district, vital
tree works are being carried out during the colder months to
nourish our greenery.
West Lancashire District Council's arboriculture contractors are
currently carrying out essential tree maintenance work to help keep
the district clean, green and safe.
The works include pruning, thinning or felling and is carried out
when the trees are dormant in the winter.
This project is important to the nourishment of the District's
greenery, helping to keep the area tidy and safe. For example, hot
spot areas are targeted, or enclosed places are made more visible
to increase public safety. Footpaths are also made more easily
accessible, which helps with other similar works, such as grass
maintenance.
Cllr David Westley, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, said: "Our
tree maintenance programme is a really important element of our
work in keeping the area clean, green and safe. It's also essential
for the conservation and enhancement of West Lancashire's trees and
woodlands in order to maintain an attractive environment in which
to live and work. Whilst we have to prioritise, our qualified tree
surgeons always carry out as much of the work as is physically
possible within the timescale. If we aren't able to do the work, it
will go on the list for the next round tree maintenance
programme."
Residents can ring up throughout the year to ask for Council-owned
trees to be inspected. The Council will assess every single one in
order to prioritise based on the four 'D's' - dead, dangerous,
deceased or dying - to identify how quickly they need to be
operated on.
The Council then draws up a list of action, based on order of
urgency ready to carry out the works through until March
2008.
Tree cuttings are then recycled in various ways. Some of it stays
on site to improve natural habitat, some is given to allotment
holders, the Countryside Rangers benefit, and also Midstream, a
charity to help people with learning disabilities. This helps with
their environmental and conservation works.
In addition to the tree maintenance programme, the Rangers carry
out similar work in all the Council's countryside sites and the
Heritage and Environment Team look after other issues, including
Tree Preservation Orders, regulate work to trees in conservation
areas and deal with protection, landscaping and promoting
planting.
Related information
> Council
news
> Environment
> Trees, hedges and woodlands