Dear Sir,
With regard to the article concerning trees being removed from the former police station site, I would advise that that site comes under the jurisdiction of the Police Commissioner. From The Town Council side I can assure residents that Great Aycliffe Town Council has a comprehensive Tree Management Policy in place which includes the requirement to publicise in advance in Newton News any intended work on Trees under the Town Council’s control on land that we own. Indeed only last week at our last Environment Committee meeting officers presented a list of works intended to take place (not all immediately but in stages) this was reported to Members and this list will be copied to every Council member as well as published in Newton News so that any tree works do not come as a sudden surprise to members of the public. The only exception being where the condition of trees presents a real and present danger to the public, in which case Officers of the Council will act first and report second. Details of this are available on the Council’s website and its reports, or contact the Council on 300700.
I know from personal experience in the past, on the Council, how much of a shock it is to see apparently healthy trees suddenly chopped down with a big empty void left in its place it makes you angry. Hence we have what we hope it a clearly defined policy including replacement of trees actually removed where it is practicable to do so.
We did on the Town Council agree also, to ask the County Council to copy our policy of giving advance notice on tree works in the local press but that is for the County Council to decide on we cannot make them.
Arun Chandran,
Chairman Environment Committee – GATC