Councillor calls for Council to branch out over tree planting
A campaigning councillor has welcomed the completion of his four-year project to return Lord Street to a tree-lined boulevard.
Cllr David Barton has worked with Sefton Council’s Trees Department to complete the scheme as part of a long-term plan to attract further inward investment and improve the local environment.
The Dukes ward councillor is now calling on the council to step up tree planting elsewhere in the town after revealing that less than half the cash allocated for the work has so far been spent.
Earlier this year Cllr Barton announced plans to plant £70,000-worth of trees across the town.
The areas he identified were Sussex Road, Westcliffe Road, Lancaster Road, Grosvenor Road, and Hawkshead Street, as well as Weld Road.
The semi-mature trees include pear, birch, maple, sycamore and Lobel Elm (bread for resistance to Dutch elm disease).
The funding has come from a number of developers who have agreed to fund green spaces in the town as part of recent planning applications, a process governed by Section 106 legal agreements.
The Section 106 scheme provides money for councils to spend on community and social projects and the tree planting is part of Cllr Barton’s campaign to increase and enhance green spaces in the town.
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But Cllr Barton said that only £30,000 of the money had been spent to date and some of the areas he had identified, along with other roads such as Lulworth Road, Waterloo Road and Vulcan Street, needed further tree planting work.
He said: “My research was comprised of selecting a street on the basis of maximal number of trees available for planting, dependant on width of pavement, cost and how well used it was by commuters.
“Once again I should like to personally thank the council for acting swiftly and thoroughly on my original requested road list but owing mainly to width of pavement or actual space availability, the requested number of trees could not be planted in some locations.
“Having noted that several tree locations where a threshold of up to 20 trees could have been planted such as Sussex Road, a long popular commuter route, where only four were planted, I am therefore seeking to request the outstanding funding be used in other areas.
“Besides improving the overall air quality, this may yet have further beneficial effects, such as reducing the long- term impact of flooding, which is a historic nuisance at Vulcan Street. Whilst only four trees could be planted there, this I am certain would be greatly appreciated by the residents and businesses residing here.
“It is important that Southport is truly best showcased all year round and as a local authority it is therefore essential that Sefton Council utilises every resource and effort to ensure our coastal town can provide as desirable a place to live, work and visit.
“Whilst I am highly appreciative that many of my original roads have been successful to date for tree planting such as Weld Road, Westcliffe Road, Grosvenor Road and Lancaster Road, there is in some cases still room for manoeuvre and add additional trees.”
“If as a Local Authority we can do our collective utmost to make the environment a cleaner, healthier, brighter and better one then we have done our jobs to the highest of our capacity.
“This money should not simply be left to accumulate, as the money is there for tangible green space assets after all and there are plenty of areas where Southport’s air quality may yet be further improved besides providing potential flooding support.
“I would strongly recommend anyone within the district especially to contact me with any further tree planting locations that may yet be taken forward in the future, in particular those where flooding is endemic.”
COUNCILLOR DAVID BARTON S.106 TREE PLANTING RESEARCH
Many appreciations to the dedicated Departments at Sefton Council for all their ongoing due assistance and support with helping my research into the best possible Tree Planting sites which have ultimately been compiled on the basis of maximal surface area, surrounding roads carriageways regularly frequented by oncoming road traffic, where there is already a lack of Greenspace and where best value for the Sefton Pound can be achieved.
1. Manchester Road – Not much room on Dukes ward side, could maybe fit in 3 more trees.
2. Houghton Street – Room for approximately 4 more trees
3. Weld Road – Room for approximately 20 more trees
4. Lancaster Road – Good site for planting, could fit 20+ new trees
5. York Road – Footpath no narrow for planting
6. Westbourne Road – Good site for planting, could fit 20+ new trees
7. Grosvenor Road – Good site for planting, could fit 20+ new trees
8. Regent Road – Good site for planting, could fit 20+ new trees
9. Westcliffe Road – Good site for planting, could fit 20+ new trees
10. Saxon Road – Footpath no narrow for planting
11. Duke Street – Footpath no narrow for planting
12. Portland Street – Room for approximately 4 new trees, mostly to narrow
13. Princes Street – Room for approximately 4 new trees, mostly to narrow
14. Talbot Street – Room for approximately 4 new trees, mostly to narrow
15. King Street – Room for approximately 4-5 new trees
16. Belmont Street – Footpath no narrow for planting
17. Vulcan Street – Room for approximately 2-3 new trees
18. Scarisbrick Street – Footpath no narrow for planting
19. Derby Road – Not much room for new trees, footpath to narrow, maybe fit in 2 more trees.
20. Sussex Road – Room for approximately 12-15 new trees
21. Hawkshead Street – Room for approximately 12-15 new trees
22. Ashely Road – Room for approximately 3-4 new trees
23. Hope Street – Footpath no narrow for planting
24. Hart Street – Only a tiny area of Hart St in in Dukes ward and not really suitable for planting
25. Wright Street – Footpath no narrow for planting
26. Hawesside Road – Footpath no narrow for planting
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH PRODUCED WITH ASSISTANCE OF SEFTON COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS
“Another good site in Dukes ward would be Oxford Rd, could be planted with 20+ new trees
Cost would be approximately £400 per tree in a hard footpath and £250 in a grass verge.
Waterloo Rd (between Hillside station and Lulworth Rd) 20+ trees People may not wish their views blocked. Approximately £5k”
Grosvenor Rd, 20+ trees –Approximately £8k
Westbourne Rd 20+ trees – Approximately £8k
Trafalgar Rd, around 20 trees – Approximately £8k
Weld Rd, around 20 trees – Approximately £8k
Oxford Rd, around 20 trees – Approximately £8k
Westcliffe Rd 20+ trees – Approximately £8k
Aughton Rd, about 8 trees – Approximately £3200
Eastbank St, about 4 trees – Approximately £1600
Coronation Walk, 2-3 trees – Approximately £1200
Lulworth Rd, 8-10 trees – Approximately £4000
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