'Driving hazard' trees set to be trimmed again
BBCTrees heavily pruned by council workers are now set to be trimmed again after they sprouted leaves along their trunks, which a councillor says pose a hazard to pedestrians and drivers.
The trees in Bramcote Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, were originally "pollarded" - a process in which several large branches are trimmed back.
The trees reacted to being pollarded by activating dormant growth points beneath their bark called epicormic buds, which have in turn grown dense leaves down to ground level.
Councillor Steve Carr said the new growth restricted the view of both motorists and pedestrians. He has reported the matter to the council, which is now set to return to trim away the new growth.
Carr, an independent district and county councillor, said: "I saw these trees I thought 'how on earth are people going to get past?'
"There is a school nearby so you have parents and children having to walk in the road, which isn't ideal.
"And the view for drivers, both of people and parked cars, is also obscured."
Carr said he contacted the county council and was told it planned to trim the branches in August or September.
"I said it shouldn't take that long, people are having to deal with this now," he said.
"It is a little ironic that the county council is sending out messages to people about cutting their hedges and trees and giving them two weeks to take action, but when it comes to them, they say they can't do anything for more than six weeks."
A highways manager from Nottinghamshire County Council said: "We're aware of epicormic growth on trees along Bramcote Road in Beeston and it is due to be removed as part of our planned maintenance programme which will start soon.
"Bramcote Road is one of over 450 streets across the county included in our epicormic growth removal programme.
"Where residents notice problems with trees or other issues on the highway, we ask that they continue to report them to us either through our website or the MyNotts App."
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