Workmen destroy trees in residential street
One of the damaged trees on Lancaster Avenue
Mature trees on a West Norwood avenue boasting million pound houses were cut down after a cock-up by contractors replacing the pavement.
Workers for Conways were relaying a section of paving in Lancaster Avenue when they damaged the roots of at least eight trees, the oldest believed to be at least 60-years-old.
Lambeth Council deemed the trees a health and safety hazard, and potentially immediately unsafe, and ordered them to be cut down last week.
But concerned residents believe the council was too eager to order all the trees’ destruction after only one was seen to show signs of being damaged.
Antony Mason, chairman of the Lancaster Avenue Residents’ Association, said residents had tried to protest with the tree surgeons who cut down the trees. He demanded all the trees be checked again to see they were really damaged, but to no avail.
He said: “It was very disappointing, trees should not be lost like this.”
Thurlow Park ward councillor John Whelan said: “The whole incident must be investigated and assurances given this will not happen again. We don’t want further trees damaged when other pavement work is carried out in Lambeth.”
A Lambeth council spokesman said: “A number of trees were damaged by a contractor undertaking pavement work – we regard this as totally unacceptable and share residents frustrations and have made our concerns very clear to the contractor responsible.
UPDATE: On Sunday 15th August 2010 another tree collapsed outside No. 25 Lancaster Avenue. John says: “Fortunately there was no person or property damaged in this latest incident, but I am now calling for a full inspection of all trees as work has only just started on the south side of the road and this must not be allowed to happen again.”
