Diseased ash tree in Coventry could be chopped down

More than 150 people signed a petition to save the ash tree

A tree residents have been fighting to save in Coventry may be chopped down due to fungal disease.

A campaign was mounted to stop the "beautiful" ash tree on Howes Lane, Finham, from being felled last year, with 150 people signing a petition.

But council officers say the tree has very low levels of healthy wood and it may need to be cut to a stump.

A decision will be made by a senior councillor next week.

Residents have insisted the tree, which blooms each year, needed "careful pruning and managing" instead.

They said it showed no sign of ash dieback and added that trees can "live for centuries with disease."

But Coventry council's urban forestry officer, Tim Wetherhill, said branches had fallen in a neighbouring garden over many years, and work has been carried out to try to reduce its size.

He spotted signs of plant disease inonotus hispidus in November 2022 and decided it needed to be cut down.

But residents said they were not warned of the work, taking place in bird-nesting season, and started their campaign.

A survey has now found the tree is on track to be deemed a "major failure" and needed to be made safe.

It poses an "ongoing and constant risk" to the resident in the private house next door.

Felling the tree to a "low stump" will make it safe and remove the risk of liability if the tree fails in future, the report added.

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