Stanborough Poplars To be Felled - PLEASE ACT NOW TO SAVE THEM!

4.52.40pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Oct 2008

Cllr Tony Skottowe will be pressing the Cabinet to listen to local opinion

The story of the 'decision' to fell all 700 poplars in Stanborough Park reads like an episode of "Yes Minister!"

Key parts of the script included a vanishing Cabinet Member, a Decision that was not a Decision but might become a Decision soon, a Public Meeting, a Heckler and an Expert.

The HISTORY

In 2006 Finesse Leisure - the privatised council leisure department - received a report on the poplars recommending their removal on health and safety grounds. This was not communicated to ward councillors, or to the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee, but presumably was brought to the attention of chief officers and the cabinet.

On 4th June 2008 the council asked for bids by 27th June for the clearance of the poplars. No public announcement was made at this time.

An article appeared in the Welwyn Hatfield Times in July which was the first time most people had heard about the issue.

On 7th August Finesse held a public meeting at the Lakes as part of a 5 week consultation to discuss the replacement programme. Council officers were present, but the cabinet member with responsibility for the decision to fell the trees, Clare Berry (conservative), did not attend.

At that meeting it emerged that the consultant who had recommended the removal of the trees worked for the same company that had been selected for their removal - clearly a conflict of interest. A residents group was set up after the meeting chaired by ex-Handside Cllr Dennis Lewis.

Thanks to the level of opposition to the plans voiced at this meeting the council and Finesse promised to get a new independent report. They also said that the 'decision' to cut down the trees had not actually been taken yet. (Despite the tender process which had already been completed!)

At a full council meeting on 1st September, Lib Dem group leader Tony Skottowe tabled a motion calling for a review of communications given the lack of clarity over the felling of the poplars. Despite backing from Labour, the ruling Tories treated this constructive motion with contempt - see right.

On 16th September a new report, by Julian Forbes-Laird (JFL) was published on the council website. Comments on this were invited by 29th September, and many, including the WGC Society, have made submissions.

On 30th September the papers for the cabinet meeting on 7th October were published including a report on the poplar issue. This was written on 19th September and did not even mention the new consultation period or address the concerns that had been raised by the public.

The FACTS

The poplars were planted 40 years ago, and are around the middle of their useful life.

It is agreed by all the experts that some of the trees must be removed or cut back immediately and that all should be replaced within the next 20 years or so.

The JFL report appears the most detailed and well informed. It recommends removal of the bulk of the trees in the south car park and a progressive replacement of those in the north car park. However, it also suggests that re-pollarding of the trees in the south car park is an option - but rejects it on grounds of aesthetics.

OUR VIEW

We support the removal of any hazardous trees - if a tree is unsafe it must be dealt with.

BUT - we think it would be much better to spread the work over several years, rather than chop everything down now. Pollarding in the south car park offers a much less drastic solution and we find it strange that the council seem to have rejected this option.

OUR QUESTIONS

? Why do the council refuse to listen to well informed public opinion?

? Why did it take 2 years for the council to act following the initial report?

The final decision will be made at the cabinet meeting of 7th October. Please attend this meeting and show solidarity with all who will be asking questions there.