City centre cherry tree to be felled

The cherry tree on St Peter's Street in Hereford is to be felled

A prominent cherry tree in the middle of Hereford is to be felled and its crumbling brick planter removed.

Herefordshire Council had applied to itself for permission to bring down the 40ft (12.1m) tree in St Peter's Street, next to St Peter's Church.

The authority said it was showing signs of dieback in the crown, while a raised planter it had outgrown was breaking apart and had been cordoned off for safety.

Its proposal for a replacement planter "with alternative shrubs" was opposed "in the strongest terms" by Herefordshire Tree Forum, whose spokesperson, city tree warden Mo Burns, said the city "already suffers from a severe lack of trees".

She acknowledged, however, the cherry tree had been "badly planted in the first place" without consideration of its eventual size.

City resident Carol Langstaff said the tree and planter, at the end of the St Owen Street cycle lane, restricted pedestrian access and caused difficulties for mobility scooters and disabled citizens who used blue badge parking in Offa Street.

"It should be completely removed and not replaced," she said.

Now council planning officer Andrew Cunningham has approved its felling and removal, though its replacement is not yet confirmed.

"It would be impractical to replant a tree within the planter once repaired, but it may be possible to select an ornamental woody tree species which may be appropriate and should be explored," his report said.

It suggested replacement trees "could also be planted elsewhere in the city to mitigate the loss".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.