New Walk: Trees to be felled on part of historic city route

The railway bridge forms part of the New Walk boulevard

Trees that risk undermining a railway bridge that forms part of Leicester's historic New Walk are to be felled.

The city council said the tree roots might cause "significant damage" to the structural integrity of the bridge over the Midland Mainline track.

The council said the seven trees were in poor health and there was a risk branches could fall on to the line below.

Work to remove the trees is to start on Monday and continue for five days.

The council's trees and woodlands manager, Dave Jones, said: "The condition of the trees means there is now a foreseeable risk of branches falling on to New Walk or on to the railway line, as well as the risk of significant damage to the railway bridge itself.

"With the health and stability of the trees now compromised, it's essential that these works are carried out as a matter of urgency."

Sections of New Walk will be closed off from Monday although public access will be maintained at all times, the council said.

It said it would plant at least one tree elsewhere in the city to replace each one felled.

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