Essential tree safety work, which will involve felling or cutting back up to 100 trees, is set to start along the Shanklin to Wroxall cycle path today (Monday).
The Isle of Wight Council has identified between 85 and 100 trees infected with Ash dieback disease that are in need of urgent attention to keep route users safe.
The works are expected to last around 5 weeks with the cycle path closed throughout the week (Monday-Friday) to ensure they can be carried out as swiftly and as safely as possible.
The Council aims to have the cycle path open every weekend during the works, but, in the event of unforeseen emergencies, this may not always be possible. Clear signage will be at either end of the route.
Many of the diseased trees can be made safe by the removal of branches or other minor works, but unfortunately, some will need to be removed.
The council plans to plant new trees in parks and amenity grassland across the Isle of Wight as part of its ongoing aim to replace trees 2 for 1, increasing tree cover on the Island’s landscape for future generations.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, explains:
“Our trees are regularly assessed by competent tree experts, and sometimes this means we need to do work to keep them safe for everybody.
Article continues below this advertisement “Due to the number of trees involved, their locations, and the desire to get the work done as quickly and efficiently as possible to reduce closure time of the route overall, we have decided to close the entire cycleway during the week while work is being carried out for everyone’s safety.
“The most urgent tree work needs to take place on trees which are mainly located at the Shanklin end between the entrance to the Lower Hyde Holiday Centre, and the bridge crossing the cycleway on Victoria Avenue and will be worked on first.
“We ask people not to use any of the cycle route while it is closed. Signage will be erected at either end of the working areas advising of the closure, which is for both public and contractor safety.
“We want to increase tree cover on council land by planting more trees in the future and working with local people to conserve and enhance our natural assets for generations to come.
“We’re committed to keeping our public open spaces and cycleways safe for everyone — with plenty of trees and woodland.”
Ash dieback, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (formerly known as Chalara fraxinea) is the most damaging tree disease since Dutch elm.
So Phil Jordan says they want to plant 2 for 1 tree !!!!
For future generations, how about Greenfield?????
Space for all to enjoy, instead of the concrete jungle jigsaw ,the planning committee seem hell bent on Creating ??????
Actions speak louder than word’s …..
If you require more greenfield area then the issue needs addressing at it’s real source.
The Government need to take every illegal dingy immigrant back to France.
Then imagine how many more green spaces would be free in the UK. As NO immigrant comes with land, nor a home, nor many with the wherewithal to buy one.
NONE will be living in shelters for life, and as they are moved into homes others replace them
For whilst thankfully not all such come to the Island to take a home, many British indigenous people come to live here do so BECAUSE of they no longer feel safe, or recognise Cities, towns and village they once loved. So illegals STILL cause issues for us, even if not deciding to impose themselves directly here.
what has people coming on dinghy’s got to do with punning and cutting down trees along the shanklin path ? especially when the Dinghy’s are not coming to the isle of Wight
It, obviously, has nothing whatsoever to do with it.
But when has that ever stopped a far-right swivel-eyed loony from posting their hate filled gibberish.
Perhaps “Ivy” might like to explain how we are supposed to “take every illegal dingy immigrant back to France”? Just rock up at a French port with a shipload of them and expect the French would happily accept them? People like “Ivy”, as as thick as mince as well as having minds like sewers.
ivy explained it is displaced people moving here to avoid the areas they once knew which are now overun with people they no longer feel ok living amongst which is the issue for the Island. Hence growing number of elderly here year on year.
Don’t worry about negatives the numptys our out , and using several accounts poison ivy has changed her name !!!!
The thumbs up are being outvoted bt the TW -Ts…
British Indigenous LOL I’d like to see your definition of that phrase
Please put a sock in it, you bitter and twisted old bat.
Have a look around you. Most of the people moving to the Island, buying houses and causing my beautiful Island to be built on are old tarts like you.
Let’s hope there’s more than two people actually working from each end of the closed part to get the job done quickly.After all we are all meant to be on bikes or walking now.