Maintenance work on Florence Road trees

Following a health and safety inspection on the street trees in Florence Road, routine maintenance work will begin next week.

The inspection found that while the majority of the trees on the road only require light pruning as part of our regular maintenance programme, 6 pose an unacceptable safety risk and will require more significant work or removal.

This is due to fungal decay at the base of the trunk.

Work will begin on Monday 7 April and is expected to take up to three weeks to complete. It will include:

• The complete removal of three trees outside numbers 6/8, 32, and 36 Florence Road, all of which are compromised by fungal decay at ground level.
• Heavy pruning of two sycamore trees in front of 46 Florence Road. They will be kept as standing trunks in the hope that they will resprout later this year or next.
• Heavy pruning of one elm tree outside number 29 Florence Road, again due to fungal decay at the base.

We have written to residents living on the road to let them know about the work and the reasons for it. We’ve also put notices on the 3 trees to be removed.

Teams will do their best to keep disruption to a minimum, but there will be some noise and pavement and road closures while it’s taking place.

Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet member responsible for trees, said: “This is obviously upsetting as we don’t want to remove or cut back trees, but the health and safety of our residents must take priority. 

“We can’t risk these trees falling onto people, their homes or onto the road, so while most of the trees on Florence Road will remain, we’ll need to do some extra work on these 6 to keep everyone safe.

“I’d like to thank residents for their patience and understanding while this essential work is carried out.”