Your common, your trees

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What trees do you want to see replace those lost to disease?

Ealing residents are being invited to have their say on what trees they would like to see planted in one of the borough’s most striking open spaces. The Council has commenced a three-week consultation on replanting options for Ealing Common, after a number of trees have been lost to disease.

Through 2005 and 2006 the soil borne disease Bleeding Canker infected several Horse Chestnut trees, including those planted along the Uxbridge Road avenue, which were removed due to the threat they posed to the highway and public safety.

The council will replace the trees that have already been lost from the Uxbridge Road and is asking residents their views on the type of tree or trees they would like to see planted.

As there is currently no recognised cure for Bleeding Canker, it is likely that it will affect other Horse Chestnut trees across the common, which will require their removal in the future. The species chosen as part of this consultation will be used if, or when, any further trees are removed.

Councillor Nigel Sumner, cabinet member for health and community well being, said: “The planted avenues are a recognised visual amenity and although Horse Chestnut can no longer be planted it would be wrong to lose such an effect without attempting to replant gaps. I would encourage all residents who are passionate about this issue to take a few minutes and complete the survey.

“I want to stress that we are not advocating the removal of healthy trees. This consultation is to ensure that we can start our programme of replanting the trees that have already been lost to Bleeding Canker, but to also ensure that any future replanting is done in a consistent manner.”

The council is aiming to start the planting programme in March by gap filling the mixed species along the North Circular and Uxbridge Junction (7 trees) and The Common (9 trees). Replanting along the Uxbridge Road (5 trees) will be undertaken once the results of the consultation are known.

The four options for replanting are:

Ealing Area Committee considered this matter at its meeting on the 6 February and agreed to progress with the majority replanting option (from Options 1-4), as identified by the consultation returns, and with the agreement of the Ealing Area Committee Chair and cabinet member for health and community well being.

February 21, 2007