Wirral tree removal not 'random and intensified'

Tree removals are highlighted during a pre-planned cyclical safety inspection regime during which the health and structural integrity of the tree is assessed within the context of the trees setting.

It should always be remembered that trees are not permanent landscape features and as such have a finite safe use within the landscape.

With any large tree population such as we enjoy on the Wirral there will always be a proportionally small number of trees which we are no longer to safely retain on publicly accessible sites.

The strategic plan for tree cover within the borough is to double this over the next decade therefore the loss of habitat and visual amenity from the removal of this proportionally small number of trees will be more than mitigated for via this doubling of tree cover.

If anything felling end of life and dead trees can actually free up space for new healthy vigorous trees with extensive future potential.

The allegation that Wirral has breached the Wildlife and Countryside Act is baseless and untrue.

Our contractors comply with this legislation.

Birds can nest from March to as late as September therefore it is logistically not practicable to limit tree maintenance works to the autumn and winter.

The protocol for adherence with the legislation is as follows:

• Where a nest is observed the works scheduled for this tree are postponed until after fledging.
• Where the tree isn’t safe enough to be left until fledging investigations are made to see if access under the tree or within falling distance of the tree can be prohibited.
• Where access cannot be restricted and the tree is imminently dangerous the minimum works possible to abate the imminent danger is carried out with due regard for limiting disturbance as much as practicably possible.

Regarding the allegation that the council are putting lives at risk through working through the Covid emergency our contractors have followed the advice of the UKs national advisory body on arboriculture, that essential public safety related works can continue.

Working practices have been amended following national guidance to ensure that working practices are Covid secure.

Risk assessments and method statements have been produced and provided to the Council detailing the special protective measures which have been put in place.

Wirral has pledged to reduce use of herbicides and chemical treatment of vegetation and to phase out the use of Glyphosate where possible.

To date, we have stopped using Glyphosate in all Parks and Countryside areas (except for the treatment of invasive species), stopped spraying beaches and reduced the amount used on highways and footways.

Despite our desire to reduce further utilising alternative technologies, so far, none have been successful in providing an alternative solution following trials.

Insofar as is practicable, we have to maintain predominantly vegetation free highways, pavements and around obstacles such as street signs, bollards and other street furniture where necessary.

We have to use Glyphosate as a control strategy to selectively remove invasive and undesirable plants such as Japanese knotweed and Giant Hogweed.

The staff cost of employing enough staff to do this work without chemical treatments, e.g through strimming would be cost prohibitive and potentially detrimental to their own welfare through exposure to issues such as excessive hand arm vibrations.

In carrying out this work our contractors abide by all regulation as required under the EU Directive on the Sustainable use of Pesticides.

Glyphosate remains a UK Government licensed product until 2022.

All staff hold relevant certificates of competence in the safe use of pesticides.

Furthermore we have identified formal sites where we have decided not to mow based on wildlife & pollinators 16 of those have been identified by our residents during lockdown.

We appreciate the concerns that some residents have with the use of glyphosate products and each year review our approach to managing the environment but in doing so try to balance the needs of all factors including pollinators and insects versus our responsibility to keep highways, footways and cycleways safe for our users and residents.

Cllr Julie McManus, Labour councillor for Bidston and St. James and cabinet member for community services, Wirral Council