Homes left in dark by trees
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 22nd November 2001.
RESIDENTS who say they have to keep their lights on all the time because huge trees are plunging their homes into darkness, have had their fight taken up by their MP.
Richard Spring visited Chaplains Close, Haverhill, and has asked St Edtnundsbury Borough Council to help the residents.
Jackie Turner, who has raised a petition, said residents had been trying to get the trees, which are taller than their houses, and overgrown bushes cut back.
The trees also block out light from street lamps, making residents reluctant to use pathways at night.
Mrs Turner said: “The trees are too tall, they cut our light out completely and we have our lights on all day and with winter coming it is going to be even worse.
“People in Dovehouse Road have back entrances, but they cannot use them because it is so overgrown. One walnut tree is so big it hangs over the garden and hits the window of one house.”
Mrs Turner said residents have safety concerns about the trees and one branch has already fallen off in high winds and smashed through someone’s roof.
Residents in the area are unable to get SKY television fitted because engineers cannot get the poles high enough.
David Carmichael, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s tree officer, said he had requested a climbing inspection of the trees to see if there was anything wrong with them. It they did need to be cut back this could help with the light problem.
The trees, mainly ash, are around 15 metres high and some of them are subject to tree preservation orders.
“I have some sympathy with the problem, but the difficulty is knowing what to do about it. If we just the lop the tops off they will look ugly and we could introduce diseases and weakness.
“It is not a unique problem and often caused because the houses are built too close to the trees in the first place. Because the houses are built too close to the trees in the first place. Because we don’t have a lot of money the health and safety jobs tend to get done first. We will look at them again and if we can help we will,” Mr Carmichael said.
Richard Spring visited Chaplains Close, Haverhill, and has asked St Edtnundsbury Borough Council to help the residents.
Jackie Turner, who has raised a petition, said residents had been trying to get the trees, which are taller than their houses, and overgrown bushes cut back.
The trees also block out light from street lamps, making residents reluctant to use pathways at night.
Mrs Turner said: “The trees are too tall, they cut our light out completely and we have our lights on all day and with winter coming it is going to be even worse.
“People in Dovehouse Road have back entrances, but they cannot use them because it is so overgrown. One walnut tree is so big it hangs over the garden and hits the window of one house.”
Mrs Turner said residents have safety concerns about the trees and one branch has already fallen off in high winds and smashed through someone’s roof.
Residents in the area are unable to get SKY television fitted because engineers cannot get the poles high enough.
David Carmichael, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s tree officer, said he had requested a climbing inspection of the trees to see if there was anything wrong with them. It they did need to be cut back this could help with the light problem.
The trees, mainly ash, are around 15 metres high and some of them are subject to tree preservation orders.
“I have some sympathy with the problem, but the difficulty is knowing what to do about it. If we just the lop the tops off they will look ugly and we could introduce diseases and weakness.
“It is not a unique problem and often caused because the houses are built too close to the trees in the first place. Because the houses are built too close to the trees in the first place. Because we don’t have a lot of money the health and safety jobs tend to get done first. We will look at them again and if we can help we will,” Mr Carmichael said.
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