Trees Come Down

Last May I had a picture published in the Herald Express which showed a branch of a tree on top of a taxi. The tree was one of 5 or 6 that used to stand next to the taxi rank on Cary Parade in the Harbour area. Council workers cut down all these trees a couple of days ago due to problems with similar trees dropping branches. They will be replaced as soon as Rock Walk is finished. Similar trees on the Strand overlooking the Harbour will be trimmed as they also have the same genetic problem and are liable to drop Branches on our precious tourist who sit under them looking at our beautiful Harbour. Full story Below.

For a map of the Rock Walk diversions for cars and HGVs click here.

From the Herald Express 26 January 2008.

PARK TREES GET CHOP FOR SAFETY'S SAKE
Landmark trees have had to be cut down in one of Torquay's parks after it was found they were suffering from a 'genetic' fault which caused them to drop branches.A taxi driver had a lucky escape after a branch from one of the plane trees in Cary Parade came crashing down on his car during the rough Bank Holiday weather last May.After some arboricultural detective work, it was discovered that trees in that section of Cary Parade, and those planted along the Strand, all originated from the same nursery in Holland.And there have been similar problems with other 'related' trees from the same nursery across the country, including those on Exeter Cathedral Green which have also had to be felled.

The good news is that the Cary Parade trees will be replaced and it has been decided to trim the Strand trees so they can stay.Cabinet member Cllr Chris Lewis explained: "In May last year a branch from a plane tree in Cary Parade fell, damaging a vehicle."Following this, the council's arboricultural experts conducted a full investigation of the plane trees in Cary Parade and Torquay harbour, all of which originated from the same nursery in Holland."It was found that over time the trees appear to develop a structural fault that weakens the branches. During the investigation it was also discovered this problem has occurred nationally with trees originating from the same nursery - the Diocese of Exeter has recently had to cut many of its trees down in Cathedral Green due to the same problem.

"Following the investigation it was decided to fell the trees in Cary Parade and pollard the trees on the harbourside - due to their importance to the street scene."The trees in Cary Parade will be replaced within this season's planting schedule. The work to the trees on the harbourside is slightly more complex as the lights within them have to be removed and the work must be carried out in the early hours of the morning to keep disruption to traffic at a minimum."We expect to carry out the work following completion of Rock Walk, however, this may be brought forward depending on the traffic situation during the works."

A KEY section of Torquay's seafront is closed for up to six weeks from Monday while Torbay Council take out some trees from Rock Walk.Traffic is being diverted from between the Belgrave Road and Torbay Road junction to Cary Parade while a giant crane is brought in to take the trees out of Rock Walk.A map of the diversions is available on our website http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/Half-price parking is being introduced at Torquay's Shedden Hill car park while the road is closed.Thirty-five unstable trees are being taken out as part of £100,000 safety work at the prominent site.

The work depends on the weather and could take up to six weeks.Once finished, a geological survey will be carried out on the cliff face.