[Announce] Fwd: This one

Fri Feb 13 14:37:19 GMT 2015

Dear Councillor O'Reilly

I feel very strongly that the trees in Alexandra Gardens should be fully protected and preserved for the residents of the area and the whole city.  I hope that the preservation of the trees will be a priority for the City Council.

Thank you

Caroline

-----Original Message-----
From: announce [mailto:announce-bounces at soscambridge.org.uk] On Behalf Of Yahoo!
Sent: 12 February 2015 18:28
To: Carina O'Reilly; Rod Cantrill
Cc: announce at soscambridge.org.uk; liz Fenton
Subject: Re: [Announce] Fwd: This one

Dear Councillor O'Reilly,
As a city resident since 1982, I am delighted that Councillor Cantrill is seeking to protect the trees in Alexandra Gardens and I do not see that you have any cause to describe his objection as "a political bun-fight".    I should have thought that you would have had more concern to protect the city's amenities such a this.
Yours sincerely,John Cooper
      From: Carina O'Reilly <carinaoreilly at gmail.com>
 To: Rod Cantrill <rcantrill at millingtonadvisory.com>
Cc: "announce at soscambridge.org.uk" <announce at soscambridge.org.uk>; liz Fenton <agtreegroup at gmail.com>
 Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2015 7:30 AM
 Subject: Re: [Announce] Fwd: This one

Again, Rod, this is not the place for a political bun fight.

All the best,
Carina

On Thu, Feb 12, 2015 at 3:20 PM, Rod Cantrill < rcantrill at millingtonadvisory.com> wrote:

>  Dear Carina
>
>  Thanks for this - the council always has had difficult choices to
>make  regarding how it prioritises it resources.  Funding was just as
>tight in
> 2012 as it is now - if I recall the council found savings of
>approximately  £1.4m in that year.
>
>  It is a shame you view it as a political point - that is not
>something I  have sort to do.  The issue should be about whether the
>city council places  importance on its green open spaces and the
>amenity value of the trees on  them.  Something that makes the city
>unique.  In 2012 - I was convinced by  the arguments put forward by
>residents and other stakeholders including  yourself that the solution
>was to preserve the trees.  I don't see what the  difference is now as in my view their amenity value has not changed.
>
>  Regards
>
>  R
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 12 Feb 2015, at 14:47, Carina O'Reilly <carinaoreilly at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  Dear all,
>
>  The solution found by Cllr Cantrill was to set aside a large amount
>of  money to cover the costs of the claims against the council and any
>works  needed. Grateful as we all were for that, it's no longer an
>option for the  council due to government funding cuts that are forcing
>us to make £1.6  million worth of cuts to services every year - as Cllr
>Cantrill knows  perfectly well.
>
>  Having defended myself, I do think that this is a most inappropriate
>place to make political points, and I would hope that we can restrict
>ourselves in future to leaflets which residents can choose to read or bin.
>
>  All the very best,
> Cllr Carina O'Reilly
> Executive Councillor for the City Centre and Public Places  Ward
>Councillor Arbury
>
>  carinaoreilly at gmail.com
>
> On Thu, Feb 12, 2015 at 9:28 AM, Rod Cantrill <
> rcantrill at millingtonadvisory.com> wrote:
>
>> Liz
>>
>> Thanks for the mail
>>
>> I strongly object to the action proposed by the council - the
>> solution we eventually found for the trees on the other side of the
>> park (when I was the Executive Cllr) - ensured that the amenity value
>> of the trees was preserved on a key green space within the city
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Rod Cantrill
>>
>>
>> Cllr Rod Cantrill
>> Ward Councillor Newnham
>> Cambridge City Council
>> Tel: +44 7919103865
>> E-mail: rcantrill at millingtonadvisory.com
>> www.newnhamlibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: announce [mailto:announce-bounces at soscambridge.org.uk] On
>> Behalf Of liz Fenton
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 11:29 PM
>> To: announce at soscambridge.org.uk
>> Subject: [Announce] Fwd: This one
>>
>> *TREES IN ALEXANDRA GARDENS *
>>
>>
>>  Insurance companies claim that some of the trees in Alexandra
>>Gardens  are causing cracks in houses near to the park. The council is
>>recommending  major tree works (chop off 70%), to mitigate its liability.
>>
>>
>> This will be a familiar story to many local residents who in 2010
>> campaigned successfully, to protect three of the plane trees facing
>> Carlyle Road that were targeted for exactly the same reasons. Public
>> opposition was so overwhelming that the council withdrew is proposal
>> to fell/heavily prune the trees.
>>
>>
>> Alexandra Gardens is defined by the twenty one plane trees that grace
>> its front and back edges. The 110 year old trees have an collective
>> amenity and asset value of over £3.25 million. Nine trees which
>> shelter the play area for small children are implicated.
>>
>>
>> Heavy crown reduction is not without risk; the trees become more
>> vulnerable to infection and it can shorten their life expectancy.
>> While pollarding may be suitable for street trees it is inappropriate
>> for trees in a park setting where the natural expectation is for them
>> to have branches.
>>
>>
>> The appalling visual impact of branchless trees in Alexandra Gardens
>> would be unavoidable from every aspect. It would devastate the
>> appearance of the park as a whole, destroy the cohesive beauty of the
>> avenue and reduce the value of each cut tree by an average of £92,000!
>>
>>
>> The overall loss of asset value is far greater than the estimated
>> budget shortfall to keep the trees intact.
>>
>>
>> There is to be a 'drop-in' / surgery / meeting on Monday 16th
>> February, 3.30-7.30pm at St. Luke's Church Centre (main church
>> space). Alistair Wilson, Joanna Davies (Interim Tree Officer),
>> councillor Carina O’Reilly and councillor Mike Todd-Jones will all be
>> there to discuss this issue and answer questions.
>>
>>
>> The public consultation period ends on 18th February, it is vitally
>> important that people write to object to this irrevocably damaging
>> and short sighted recommendation before then. A strong response is
>> needed if these trees are to stand a chance.
>>
>>
>> Write to Green Spaces Manager Alistair Wilson
>> Alistair.Wilson at cambridge.gov.
>> uk and Executive Councillor Carina O’Reilly carinaoreilly at gmail.com.
>>
>>
>> The council’s report can be found on the website under Tree Work.
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>
>
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