Council announces plans to cut down 130 diseased Havant trees

Ash trees that run through the St Faith’s conservation area in Havant up to Bosmere Junior School in South Street have become infected with ash dieback disease, according to Hampshire County Council.

A chronic fungal disease, ash dieback will most likely lead to the death of these trees as fungus grows on the branches.

The county council submitted a conservation application on November 3 to Havant Borough Council for the removal of the 130 diseased ash trees, and it is believed that the work could begin as soon as the end of this month.

Councillor Stephen Reid said: ‘Ash dieback was confirmed in Hampshire in 2014 and we know it is spreading to the ash trees commonly found across the county.

‘The removal of this many trees is a tragedy and is the last thing we would want to do but we know that, once infected, ash dieback disease can spread extremely quickly, further weakening these trees and causing their branches to fall.

‘It is therefore essential to take action without delay and remove the diseased trees, especially given that some of these trees stand on the conservation area’s boundary with Bosmere Junior School.’

The council says it has been monitoring sites ever since ash dieback was discovered in the county, to ensure dead and dying ash trees do not pose a risk to members of the public, or to wildlife.

Due to some of the diseased trees being close to Park Road North, some traffic measures may be put in place if the work goes ahead.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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