TWO landmark trees in Alton's public gardens could be felled. The majestic Cedar of Lebanon and its Austrian Pine neighbour next to the bandstand are earmarked for removal to comply with recommendations in a recent safety audit. Alton Town Council, the landowner responsible for the gardens, commissioned the audit as part of a programme of surveys and inspections to test the safety and condition of the hundreds of trees in its parks and open spaces. This work will ensure that ATC complies with health and safety laws and enable it to plan budgets for works, which often run into thousands of pounds. Sites are being surveyed according to the size and age of the trees and location. Deputy town clerk Greg Burt said the Public Gardens was surveyed first because many of the specimens there (some rare) pre-date the 1930s opening of the gardens to the public. Mr Burt said: "They were planted when the land was a private arboretum serving Westbrooke House (fronting the High Street). "Its popularity throughout the year with strollers, children using the playground and many events in the summer persuaded the council and it's arboriculturist of the need to look at it first." The audit of the Public Gardens is likely to be followed by condition surveys of trees at Anstey Park, St Lawrence Churchyard and The Butts. Undertaken by arboriculturist Ben Abbatt, on behalf of Sapling Arboriculture Ltd, the Public Gardens survey identifies the need to fell both the Cedar and the Austrian Pine, and to undertake some additional minor works to improve the safety and wellbeing of the trees in the gardens. East Hampshire District Council has been asked for its permission as the gardens lie within the Alton Conservation Area and the trees have preservation orders. Concerns over the state of the cedar began in the summer when a large branch broke off in heavy rain. Describing the cedar as being in "poor condition, with lower than normal needle size and density and slightly lower than normal extension growth" the arboriculturist's report points out that there is evidence of a (likely) history of other significant branches failing. And, it concludes: "This tree is approaching the end of its safe useful life expectancy." In discussing the report at last Wednesday's recreation committee meeting, and having undertaken a recent tour of the Public Gardens with Ben Abbatt and Alton tree warden, Jim Dickinson, councillors agreed to support the work going ahead. Ward councillor John Smith pointed out: "It is unfortunate that two such dominant specimens have to go and everyone in Alton will be affected by their loss. "But while what you don't know doesn't worry you, we now know that the Cedar of Lebanon is becoming dangerous and for the council to do nothing would be negligent." Recreation committee chairman Atul Patel said: "Our experience at The Butts has shown us that trees do not last forever and that the best way to keep the town looking green and pleasant is to be pro-active in the management of our tree stock, by trying to identify possible dangers in advance of something unfortunate happening and replanting. "We will all be very sad to see these trees come down, but the council has little choice. We will however be looking at replacing them next autumn."
