HUNDREDS of trees in Welwyn Garden City are facing the axe, despite a vigorous campaign to save them.

As we revealed this morning, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council controversially decided to chop down the trees based in the south car park of Stanborough Lakes on Tuesday evening at a cabinet meeting attended by around 50 campaigners.

Officers labelled a further 34 poplar trees in the north car park ‘hazardous’ and as a result these will also be felled with the remainder left for review.

Councillor Clare Berry, with responsibility for the environment and community, said: “This was a very difficult decision; we share the desire of the community to protect the landscape but have to balance that against our responsibilities to ensure public safety and manage the risks.”

Finesse, which manages Stanborough Park on behalf of the council, has become increasingly concerned about the condition of the poplars in both car parks and the risk they pose to people and their cars.

The council and three independent consultants investigated and considered a number of proposals to manage the risk in the south car park and concluded that felling was the only realistic option.

But campaigners from heritage watchdog Welwyn Garden City Society believe felling is unwarranted.

Chairman John Marks said: “The decision was already made prior to Tuesday evening. The meeting was a charade. I just can’t believe that everyone on the cabinet agreed on the decision and there was not one dissenting voice.

“I understand that the council has to be vigilant over health and safety but I think it’s a monstrous decision to fell the trees.”

Labour parliamentary candidate Mike Hobday added: "It is a really shocking decision.

“The devastation this will cause to an important part of natural beauty is immense.

"There is strong evidence that pollarding would have removed any danger without removing the attractiveness of the scene but they made up their minds months before the consultation started."

The trees in the north car park have a longer life expectancy and the risk to the public has been categorised as ‘moderate’.

The council will consider how to manage these trees through its environment and scrutiny committee, which will also consider options for replanting in the south car park.

Councillor Berry added: “We understand the role the trees play in the identity of Stanborough Lakes and are a recognisable feature of Welwyn Garden City as a whole. The landscape will be changed but the replanting will restore it to full glory.”

  • Three reason why hundreds of trees face the axe:
  • Pollarding would only offer a short-term solution as a majority of the trees are coming towards the end of their lifespan.

  • Fifteen per cent of the trees are dangerous and need to be removed immediately. However removing these would result in other weak trees becoming exposed and more likely to cause damage.

  • Felling represents the best opportunity for a long-term landscape solution that will allow new trees to grow up together.