Cotswolds Falling Trees Injure Two Prompting Urgent Action Demands

Hey, so there’s this thing happening near Bourton-on-the-Water. Villagers want trees removed from roadsides along the A436 and A429, after about 100 trees fell during recent storms, damaging nearby property.

Some people, like Andrew Vaughan and Paul Clark, are worried and want the rest of the trees chopped down fast. They fear someone will get seriously hurt soon, referring to a past incident where person got hurt from a falling tree.

Vaughan said around 100 trees fell during one storm, and three more have fallen since then. More trees keep leaning and breaking since January 25, which a tree surveyor said should never happen, implying the landowners had enough time to act.

Clark said the council isn’t acting fast enough. He mentioned a woman almost died when a tree hit her car, and another tree fell on a man, badly hurting him. Some clearing happened, but it stopped suddenly.

He’s very worried about the remaining tall, weak trees that he thinks might fall during the next high wind, referencing the two trees which already fell in a recent storm. Landowners seem to be avoiding responsibility for the current safety concern.

Paul Hodgkinson, a local councillor, agrees with the residents and has been talking to council leaders about it. He believes the trees look very fragile, have shallow roots, and could easily fall during a future storm.

He wants the at-risk trees taken down right away, saying that waiting risks people’s safety and homes. He said this means action this month, not next month or later.

Council leader Stephen Davies said they are in contact with the landowner since way back in December, and the trees will be felled quickly. The Forestry Commission is sorting out a felling license now.

Davies clarified that the landowner is working with them well and planning the work. Contractors are figuring out the costs and logistics, and Davies expects the work to start very soon actually.