Dead trees face axe to boost Market Drayton Britain in Bloom bid

A row of dead trees could face the axe to boost a Shropshire town's chances of winning Britain in Bloom.

The trees have been killed by salt from gritting since they were planted just three years ago in the Frogmore Road car park in Market Drayton.

Now town council bosses say they want to get rid of the trees because they are harming the town's fortunes in civic horticultural competitions.

Some of the tree surrounds have also been hit by vehicles.

The proposals are to be discussed when Market Drayton Town Council's community and governance committee meets tomorrow. at the town hall, starting at 7.30pm.

Councillor Roger Hughes today said the trees were planted about three years and had been damaged by salt from gritting.

In a letter to town councillors, officials at Shropshire Council said that the trees appeared to have died because of the 'salt damage' and because they were not watered properly.

In her letter, Shirehall engineering and contracts manager Zoe Mortimer said: "I know the dead trees have been an issue and have been raised on various occasions, particularly in relation to Britain in Bloom.

"The reason the trees are proposed to be removed is they have not survived due to a number of reasons. It would appear they have not been on a regular watering schedule since they were planted but as some have survived the main issue is, I believe, from salt damage which is difficult to solve due to the layout and design of the site.

"It is clear that the tree surrounds get hit by parked vehicles due to the restricted space."

She added the proposal is to remove the dead trees within the car park and replace one at the roadside.