| |
To save our trees we need a bit more joined-up thinking
• THERE seems to be a lack of joined-up thinking in Islington. At a time when Islington Council’s environment and regeneration department is committed to preserving and making features of the borough’s mature London plane trees (for example, in landscaping projects at Islington Green and Duncan Terrace Gardens), the planning department has given permission to the Packington estate developer, Hyde Housing Association, to chop down a 70-year-old plane by the grassed area in Rheidol Terrace rather than ask it to adapt its plans to accommodate the tree.
I have been in contact with Islington’s senior tree officer, James Chambers, who admits the tree in question is “a fine tree of very significant amenity value” but says “the decision to allow its removal to accommodate housing on the redevelopment of the Packington estate was made at committee level or higher, and so I’m afraid I do not have any further information about how that decision was reached.”
As E Wilson rightly pointed out, this particular tree serves several purposes – reducing pollution and noise and screening views up and down the street (Our mature trees face threat from two fronts, February 29). Removing the existing tree and replanting another one at a different site and at a cost of about £13,000 as proposed won’t actually replace this magnificent pavement plane in our lifetimes or be as visible on the long view from the church.
It would be interesting to know why the council blocked the developer at The Island, in Prebend Street, from removing the trees on Coleman Fields. The developer had originally wanted to remove most of them and the council made it redesign the Coleman Fields frontage to retain the plane trees.
That site was not in a conservation area, whereas the Rheidol Terrace plane is in one. Can anyone tell me why planning policies are not being applied evenly?
Caroline Clayton
Burgh Street, N1
• I strongly support all the points made in E Wilson’s letter. Our very few remaining mature street trees are vital to our environment. This is particularly so in St Peter’s ward, which is a densely built-up area with limited green space.
The plane tree by the green on the corner of Rheidol Terrace and Prebend Street pre-dates both the adjacent school and estate, both of which are due to be demolished. It has always been an important and much-loved part of our environment.
This tree is one of the few remaining mature trees left in our ward. Its proposed fate highlights what appears to be a piecemeal and short-term approach to environmental issues.
What is the council’s planning strategy and is it doing enough to protect mature trees and our environment?
This tree was planted about 70 years ago for future generations to enjoy. Reversing that vision now, by chopping it down, will negatively affect generations to come.
K Rowan
Rheidol Terrace, N1
|
 |
|
| |
| Your Comments : |
| |
| |
| |
