[Discuss] Headline in Cambridge News

[Heather Coleman]

Dear Tree and Green Space Enthusiasts,
It was lovely to meet some of you at the extremely interesting forum last 
night.  Many thanks to those who organised it.

I'm afraid this headline is going to cause much fuming and ranting.  It 
confirms one of the things I'm afraid I thought yesterday evening, namely, 
that tree surgeons, who get paid to chop down or emasculate trees, but 
won't get paid nearly as much if they suggest preserving the trees and 
taking other mitigating measures to resolve any problem or issue, are 
likely to be very keen on recommending cutting down trees as the only 
possible or reasonable solution!

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Trees-chopped-down-without-warning-12072011.htm

My other thought was that if the City Council are so risk averse regarding 
trees, it's a pity that some of their other departments (eg Taxi 
licensing, LAPE, discussions with bus operators) aren't similar.  On my 
daily cycle along the Haling Way, along Riverside, across Midsummer 
Common, Parkers Piece, then joining Hills Road to cycle out to 
Addenbrooke's, I don't think I've ever felt endangered by a tree of which 
I pass close by many, in whatever weather.  However, I frequently feel 
endangered by illegal parking and idiotic drivers, many of whom are 
"professionals", and feel my statistical chances of having an accident are 
in line with my gut feelings.
Heather