Banbury Town Council defends felling four cherry trees in People's Park

The town council was told on Monday that residents of nearby Park Road had complained about the loss of four mature cherry trees in the town centre park.

But speaking to the Banbury Guardian, Cllr Kieron Mallon said the town council had taken the decision to fell the trees because they were old, diseased and possibly in danger of falling.

In their place an avenue of 12 young and vigorous cherry trees has been planted between the War Memorial and the rose garden, he said.

The complaints about the felling of the trees came as national efforts are being made to help tackle climate change through the natural carbon-eating process of trees.

Mr Mallon said: "Cherry trees are extremely short lived. They get to about 30 or 40 and get diseased, risking infecting other trees around them.

"Our trees officer inspected these trees and said they would soon die. We have a policy of planting two trees for every one we fell but in this case we are creating an avenue with 12 new, young trees which is replacing each lost one by four new trees."

Cllr Colin Clarke, chairman of Banbury Town Council’s general services committee, said: “This is part of a continuous cycle of tree maintenance.

“The felled trees are at least 75 years old and are showing signs of deterioration.

“This is part of the council’s long-term tree-preservation plan. With regards to climate change, we know that older trees at the end of their life span do not absorb as much carbon dioxide as younger trees.”

Mr Mallon said the town council owns and maintains over 7,000 trees, five miles of hedgerow, 220 acres of grassland, parts of rivers and wetlands.