Trust report aims to sort wood from the trees

The Citizen, 5 November 2004

Around 50 per cent of the lime trees in St Andrews' South Street are damaged to the extent that they should be felled.

Many of the remainder have a reduced life expectancy, according to an independent report commissioned by St Andrews Preservation Trust to survey each of the 53 trees in question.

A spokesperson for the Trust told the Citizen this week that it had been ''obliged, at its own expense,'' to commission the report, adding: ''Public consultation for this scheme - which affects the way our town centre will look - has been so inadequate.

''Any changes to a well-loved environment need to be justified with reasoned arguments and this has not been the case with the proposed refurbishment of South Street, in particular the planned removal and replacement of the trees in the section of the street between Bell Street and Church Street.''

The spokesperson pointed out that, when the Trust's Planning Committee heard a more detailed presentation by Scottish Enterprise Fife (the body funding the work in partnership with Fife Council), the plan began to make more sense.

However, public perception of the scheme has provoked such controversy and indignation that trustees felt they should seek another opinion before making their own decision.

''An independent tree specialist was commissioned to survey every one of the 53 trees in question, commenting on the condition and likely lifespan of each, on the problems arising from the site and on the suitability of different species.

''Our specialist's report found many of the trees damaged because of either waterlogging of the roots; excess salt running off the road and pavement and causing chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves); damage from vehicles; or compaction of the soil.

''It concluded that about 50 per cent of the trees have been damaged so much that he would recommend felling them, and that many others have had their life expectancy reduced by one or more of the above factors.

''We need to remember that the tree programme is designed as part of a plan which includes replacing the paving slabs and improving drainage and lighting in the street. The report concludes that the excavations involved with this work would damage the feeding roots and would 'severely inhibit growth on all the trees and kill many of the less robust specimens'.''

Regarding problems specific to the site, the report points out that South Street is 'a typical example of a formalised market street with a wide, tree-lined area and with all the trees of roughly equal stature and shape'.

''This supposes a certain degree of uniformity in size and age, which is clearly no longer the case in South Street, where trees have been replaced as required with new specimens which are often undersized and prone to vandalism,'' said the spokesperson.

The report concludes that 'the original design has been lost' and that 'there now appears to be a desire to re-introduce this very attractive concept,' while adding that 'such a design cannot be achieved with the current stock of trees'.

The type of lime most frequently planted in this part of South Street (Tilia platyphyllos) is the variety least well adapted to town plantings. It would be replaced with T. euchlora, which does not suffer from aphid and honeydew problems and which, in the view of the tree specialist, is 'an ideal species for this site'.

The Trust has supplemented the findings of the tree survey and report by requesting further information from Fife Council.

The spokesperson explained: '' For example, an obvious question is how the new trees can be protected from the recurrence of similar damage.

"Setting them within the increased pavement area and away from the roadway, which will be made possible by reducing the width of the road and providing adequate kerbs, would ensure that surface water and road salt are channelled away from the base of the trees.

''The report also stresses the need to ensure funding exists to maintain the trees appropriately and Fife Council assures us that this will be the case and that 'spares' of similar age and height will be used to replace any trees if this should become necessary.

''On planting, the new trees will be about seven metres (20 feet) high and they will be planted within side barriers which prevent the roots spreading laterally until they are deep enough to avoid contact with the service works. This will not only prevent damage to either roots or services but will also ensure that the pavements are not lifted by tree roots.

''What we aimed to do in commissioning this report was establish the evidence, and we feel this information will clarify many of the issues worrying people.

''We also feel very strongly that, if these arguments had been put before the public at an earlier stage, a lot of hostility currently directed towards the scheme might have been avoided.''

Scottish Enterprise have now lodged an application with Fife Council seeking ''environmental improvements to South Street, including new street lights, paving, alterations to pavements, parking layout and ancillary street furniture and felling and replanting trees.''