Council hits back at uproar as beloved cherry trees outside Nuneaton flats cut down

[dutchman]

'All the residents here used to pick the cherries from this tree to make pies and crumble'



Nuneaton council officials have defended themselves after flat tenants were left outraged when beloved cherry trees outside their homes were cut down 'with no warning'. They said the first they knew of the action was when contractors arrived and took down the trees outside Stamford Court on Manor Court Road.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "All the residents here used to pick the cherries from this tree to make pies and crumble. None of the residents here are happy about any of this.

"No-one was even notified any work was being done. We all would have not allowed this to happen given a chance."

The resident claims that the trees were healthy and that Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council cut down the wrong ones, saying there are damaged conifers but not the cherry trees. But the Town Hall has alleged it is the exact opposite.

In a statement, councillor Clare Golby, cabinet member housing and communities, said: "I'm aware of a complaint being raised with the council and almost immediately after to the Nuneaton News about what amounts to the borough council actually doing its job.

“Although this tree might have looked OK, our qualified tree maintenance professionals - which I suspect the complainant is not - had identified that it was significantly diseased at the root. The sort of disease that will make the tree fall over without warning, risking injury to people and no doubt sparking further complaints from residents."

She went on: “Had the complainant waited for a response from the council instead of going straight to the newspaper they would have been told this, and also told that we'll be replacing the diseased tree with another one that will look equally as good, which we are.

“If the complainant has any further enquiries about grounds maintenance of our housing land, they should direct those complaints through the appropriate channels at the council and give the teams the courtesy of time to respond rather than simply claiming incompetence via the media."

[dutchman]

Who do you believe; the council with a long history of lying and blunders or the residents with no reason to lie?