Residents campaign to save decades old tree hit by double decker bus

The tree faces the chop after a recent collision with a bus which National Express say was caused by someone parking inconsiderately



Residents in Coventry are campaigning to save a decades old tree Coventry City Council plan to cut down after a bus was recently damaged by its branches.

The mature lime tree on Beanfield Avenue, believed to have been planted over 80 years ago, faces the chop but residents are urging the council to reconsider, with many feeling the tree poses no risk providing the buses are driven correctly.

A "Save the Tree" petition has been set up by residents and it has the backing of local councillors.

Cllr Mattie Heaven said: "Residents want to save the tree at the corner of Beanfield Ave - the tree is a mature lime tree and has been there for 85 years.

"I and my ward colleagues Cllr Tim Sawdon & Cllr John Blundell are supporting the residents’ petition which has over 141 signatures.

"The bus company who hit the tree have not asked for it to be removed and can’t see any reason why the tree should be removed.

"Residents of Beanfield Ave are asking the Cabinet Member for City Services to meet at the site before any decision is taken by her to remove the tree. The council should try its very best to save this 85 year old tree."

A longtime resident who asked to remain anonymous said: "I can't remember when the avenue was first made a bus route but the first vehicles were "dinky" mini buses which ran off peak down to the local shopping centre.

"They were great for the elderly and caused no real disruption. Then council changed all bus routes and single deckers started coming coming down the road. No consultation, even about siting of bus stops.

"Parking became a nightmare but there was no problem with trees. These singles then turned into double deckers but no known problems with trees until this incident about two months ago.

"There is evidence that the bus must have mounted the kerb or been very very close to it to hit the branch. Buses have continued to go down without incident but now there has been one incident, council consider the tree a public liability risk and want it gone.

"The tree officer was not aware, until the incident that buses had changed to double deckers and the tree apparently does not comply with regulation clearances required.

"I'm told even if the bus company can be persuaded to go back to single deckers, the tree still has to go as its a risk to other high sided vehicles even though no other vehicles has ever hit it and there is low risk of it ever happening.

"We've sent a letter to the Cabinet Minister, Councillor Patricia Hetherton, (with whom the final decision will lie), inviting her to meet us at the tree, to ensure she has a complete understanding of the issues involved and options open to her."

Adrian Eyden-Wood, who is also a resident, said: "I want to express my concern that the council have not fully investigated the incident with the bus but have taken the bus company's account at face value (rather than ask for CCTV, all buses have it) to establish if the driver was at fault. We have heard an account that says the driver mounted the kerb."

Coventry residents victory in battle to save tree from the chop



Residents in Coventry campaigning to save a beloved tree have proven victorious after the council withdrew plans to give it the chop.

The 85-year-old mature lime tree on Beanfield Avenue, Green Lane, has been under threat since its branches were struck and damaged by a bus earlier in the year.

The city council planned to remove the tree and replace it citing it as a danger, but residents have been urging bosses to re-think their plans, saying the tree will not hit anything providing vehicles are driven correctly.

A spokesman for Coventry City Council, said plans to remove the tree would go ahead "as failure to take action could result in further incidents leading to damage, or even injury".

A campaign has been ongoing, including a petition with over 170 signatures. It was presented to the Cabinet Member this week with the council ultimately deciding not to continue with plans to cut the tree down.

Instead the council has opted for safety markings in the road to alert drivers to ensure there are no collisions.

Marian Allder had been one of the residents behind the campaign to save the tree, supported by local councillor Mattie Heaven.

In a presentation to the council, Marian said: "During this campaign, we, the residents, together with our councillors, have watched many buses make this manoeuvre many times.

"It is clear that in order to make contact with this overhead branch, the bus must have been right against, if not up on the kerb, suggesting driver error and an isolated incident.

"To remove a mature tree, because of driver error, is to coin a phrase, to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

Arguing to save the tree, Marian finished her presentation saying: "Not only will the visual impact in the avenue be diminished but the effects on our environment will be detrimental to us all.

"At a time when much of our green space is being destroyed and the value of trees to both our physical and mental health is slowly being recognised, every tree matters."

Cllr Mattie Heaven said: "Representing the residents of Beanfield Avenue, and as the shadow spokesperson for City Services, I am very delighted by the outcome...in which we won the petition to save the tree on the corner of Beanfield Avenue and Medland Avenue.

"My colleagues Tim Sawdon and John Blundell have been supportive throughout and, with the very active efforts from Marian Allder and her neighbours, we have all ensured that common sense has prevailed.

"Thank you to everyone who came out and supported this petition."