Dispute over future of trees
Wednesday 25th February 2009, 12:58PM GMT.
Tommy Clooney with one of the chestnut trees outside his house
A row has broken out among neighbours on a Mid Wales estate over whether trees overlooking their houses should be felled.
Some residents of the Vaynor Estate in Newtown complained to Powys County Council that the trees, including mature horse chestnuts and sycamores, were blocking their light and roots were starting to damage water and sewage pipes.
Council contractors sent to the site at Lon Dol-y-Bont started felling some of the trees but that led one man to launch a last-ditch bid to save them.
Builder Tommy Clooney managed to halt the operation yesterday after he tackled workmen doing the job.
“The men had already taken some of the trees down but I got them to stop taking down the beautiful chestnut tree at the bottom of my garden and the trees overlooking my two neighbours’ gardens,” he said.
“These are beautiful, mature trees that have been here for 20 years and they shouldn’t come down.
“If they’re keeping light out of some of the gardens they just need to be lopped a bit to bring the height down.”
But some of Mr Clooney’s neighbours voiced their disagreement of his action.
One, John Griffiths, said: “Because he’s made a fuss, he’s got the work stopped but when these trees are in leaf, the light is blocked from our gardens. And a bit further down the road some of the tree roots are starting to get into the water pipes and sewers.”
He added: “This is just one man’s vendetta against the council but nine other families want the trees down.”
A spokesman for Powys County Council said: “Grounds staff visited the site after the council received complaints about trees blocking light to nearby properties and branches falling off.
“Appropriate maintenance will be carried out with branches cut back as necessary. Trees are only felled if there are safety or highway concerns.”
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Good for him, I didn’t realise one could do that. I hope more people will follow suit. The council are too fond of cutting down trees, don’t they know how envinmentally friendly they are? Or do they need them for their Wood Burners as free fuel?
Report abuse
I read a neighbours comments and found them very amusing.
I was unaware I had a so called vendetta against the Powys Council. This is news to me. As for the trees interfering with the water and drain pipes, I don’t think this is correct, as the surrounding ground around the trees has never been dug up to inspect root damage and verify this comment which was made in the newspaper.
Also the statement that I am the only neighbour who does not want the trees cut down is incorrect. There are other neighbours who live in the row of 10 houses, who knew absolutely nothing about the plan to butcher and remove trees as they have never been consulted, and would never have agreed with this drastic plan. I have never received any communication in writing from Powys Council of their intentions to kill the trees. I was told verbally that the plan was to prune and cut back the overhanging branches and maintain the trees. If you go to a barber for a hair cut, they do not remove your head, they just trim your hair. What they have done in this particular case, is they are not telling the truth about their true intention. Sorry but I mentioned the trees were on the Estate 20 years, but in fact they are over 35 years old.
I am in contact with the Friends of the Earth to get a preservation order to save the remaining trees before the Council try and pull this stunt again without consulting any residents.
Report abuse
Thank you Shropshire Star for reporting this story on the fate of trees in newtown cheers tommy clooney
Report abuse
Tommy Clooney I bet if the tree roots were to cause problems on you,re property you would be the fist to complain..
Report abuse
monkey there is no efidence that any damage has been done to any properties regarding these trees tommy clooney
Report abuse
to my horror i have just found out powys county council cut the trees down because some residents were having sky satalite problems i have lived here for 20 years and have never had any problems with my sky dish so powys council statement in shropshire star is not the truth
Report abuse