Diseased ash tree cull to force major road closures

The council is planting trees to replace the ones cut down

A "mass removal" of diseased ash trees is expected to need major closures across main roads.

Redcar and Cleveland councillors have been told all main arterial routes between Redcar, Guisborough and East Cleveland would have to be shut at some stage.

Councillors were told 112 trees affected by ash dieback disease had been cut down as of last month.

The disease, which is prevalent across the UK, weakens trees leaving them at risk of collapse.

Members of the council’s climate and environment scrutiny committee have been told trees adjacent to carriageways are a potential safety hazard and need to come down.

Last year, Barry Hunt - the council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing - told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the authority was taking the risk posed by ash dieback “extremely seriously” and had compiled a list of affected trees.

Ash dieback can leave trees weak and at risk of collapse

The council has said it intended to have about 17,000 new trees planted this year, on top of the 4,000 planted last year at a cost of £25,000.

Members of the council’s climate and environment scrutiny committee have been told these include a mix of native trees, cherry and willow.

A report to the committee said some saplings had been vandalised and damaged at Eston Recreational Ground and in Brotton soon after they were planted.

The very dry summer and sustained warm temperatures had also caused difficulties in terms of the watering required, it said.