Comments on: Rare Outbreak of Common Sense as Cambridge City Council Shelves “Tree-Chess” Plans http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/rare-outbreak-of-common-sense-as-cambridge-city-council-shelves-tree-chess-plans.html Cambridge, United Kingdom. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:54:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: David Vincent http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/rare-outbreak-of-common-sense-as-cambridge-city-council-shelves-tree-chess-plans.html#comment-10574 David Vincent Mon, 25 May 2009 16:14:12 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=1238#comment-10574 After all this, it's interesting to see from the Lib Dem election literature that "Trees are being felled across Cambridge but the Lib Dems are fighting to preserve them". Apparently it was all down to the County Council and Addenbrookes, arther than the City Council. "Cambridge Lib Dems are trying to stop or slow down the removal of healthy trees". The proposed protocol sounds like common sense, but how quick they are to take credit for "stopping" something they allowed to happen. After all this, it’s interesting to see from the Lib Dem election literature that “Trees are being felled across Cambridge but the Lib Dems are fighting to preserve them”. Apparently it was all down to the County Council and Addenbrookes, arther than the City Council. “Cambridge Lib Dems are trying to stop or slow down the removal of healthy trees”. The proposed protocol sounds like common sense, but how quick they are to take credit for “stopping” something they allowed to happen.

]]> By: Richard http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/rare-outbreak-of-common-sense-as-cambridge-city-council-shelves-tree-chess-plans.html#comment-9223 Richard Tue, 05 May 2009 10:55:08 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=1238#comment-9223 The orchard is mentioned - under the "Friends of Midsummer Common" heading. The orchard is mentioned - under the “Friends of Midsummer Common” heading.

]]> By: Anne Garvey http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/rare-outbreak-of-common-sense-as-cambridge-city-council-shelves-tree-chess-plans.html#comment-9221 Anne Garvey Tue, 05 May 2009 10:51:30 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=1238#comment-9221 Well done Richard on this report. It does seem that the Councillors are listening. You don't make any mention of the proposal which I thought was rather exciting, for a Community Orchard to be sited in the CIty Pound ( the area next to Midsummer House currently all weedy and nettly but land which belongs to the Council) I did contrast this imaginative idea ( to be funded by national money so won't cost us all a penny) with the sterile plans that Oviatt-Hamm and friends have in store for us. Frankly I think they are rather mad. Chopping down healthy trees, 'removing and transplanting' other huge trees and refusing to say what the real success rate is of this and refusing to justify any of it. I suggest that what voters and tax payers want from blimey, four whole arboricultural experts or whatever they call themselves, is not some barmy plan to move trees around - and actually there is real shock out there about the loss of so many trees this year, but some creative and helpful aid to trees. 1.Why haven't the vanadalized and broken horse chestnuts on Victoria Avenue been protected firstly and then replaced? There isn't much hope for them surviving until 2250 if they can't get them beyond ten months in the ground. 1.Why haven't the tree officers - salaried staff - taken a lead on this Orchards business rather than leaving it to an enterprising member of the public? 3.Why can't they concentrate on putting in trees rather than taking them out? I agree with you that Midsummer Common is the place with the least need of trees after all it'\s a Common, but they could put them on the south side of the Common and shield out the houses right down by Fen Ditton. That would really make for the rus in urbe feel we all love about Cambridge. Well done Richard on this report. It does seem that the Councillors are listening. You don’t make any mention of the proposal which I thought was rather exciting, for a Community Orchard to be sited in the CIty Pound ( the area next to Midsummer House currently all weedy and nettly but land which belongs to the Council) I did contrast this imaginative idea ( to be funded by national money so won’t cost us all a penny) with the sterile plans that Oviatt-Hamm and friends have in store for us.
Frankly I think they are rather mad. Chopping down healthy trees, ‘removing and transplanting’ other huge trees and refusing to say what the real success rate is of this and refusing to justify any of it.
I suggest that what voters and tax payers want from blimey, four whole arboricultural experts or whatever they call themselves, is not some barmy plan to move trees around - and actually there is real shock out there about the loss of so many trees this year, but some creative and helpful aid to trees.
1.Why haven’t the vanadalized and broken horse chestnuts on Victoria Avenue been protected firstly and then replaced? There isn’t much hope for them surviving until 2250 if they can’t get them beyond ten months in the ground.
1.Why haven’t the tree officers - salaried staff - taken a lead on this Orchards business rather than leaving it to an enterprising member of the public?
3.Why can’t they concentrate on putting in trees rather than taking them out? I agree with you that Midsummer Common is the place with the least need of trees after all it’\s a Common, but they could put them on the south side of the Common and shield out the houses right down by Fen Ditton. That would really make for the rus in urbe feel we all love about Cambridge.

]]> By: Richard http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/rare-outbreak-of-common-sense-as-cambridge-city-council-shelves-tree-chess-plans.html#comment-9007 Richard Fri, 01 May 2009 17:18:25 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=1238#comment-9007 The <a href="http://jesusgreen.blogspot.com/2009/05/tree-revamp-decision.html" rel="nofollow">Jesus Green Association has published their statement</a> which they prepared prior to the meeting. The Jesus Green Association has published their statement which they prepared prior to the meeting.

]]> By: Richard http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/rare-outbreak-of-common-sense-as-cambridge-city-council-shelves-tree-chess-plans.html#comment-9004 Richard Fri, 01 May 2009 15:58:53 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=1238#comment-9004 Brian, I can't yet find the draft protocol on the council's website but I have <a href="http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/pdf/draft-tree-protocol.pdf" rel="nofollow">published it myself.</a> It will be taken to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee on Thursday the 25th of June. You could <a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/cambridge_city_council" rel="nofollow">ask the council using the WhatDoTheyKnow.com website</a> how many tree officers they have. I'd phrase it quite broadly. On <a href="http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/planning/conservation/tree-preservation/" rel="nofollow">the council's website</a> there is a Principle Arboricultural Officer, two other arboricultural officers and an administrator listed as members of the tree team. It would be interesting to know if there are any further staff who spend a significant amount of time working on the city's trees. Brian,

I can’t yet find the draft protocol on the council’s website but I have published it myself. It will be taken to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee on Thursday the 25th of June.

You could ask the council using the WhatDoTheyKnow.com website how many tree officers they have. I’d phrase it quite broadly.

On the council’s website there is a Principle Arboricultural Officer, two other arboricultural officers and an administrator listed as members of the tree team. It would be interesting to know if there are any further staff who spend a significant amount of time working on the city’s trees.

]]> By: Brian Johnson http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/rare-outbreak-of-common-sense-as-cambridge-city-council-shelves-tree-chess-plans.html#comment-9000 Brian Johnson Fri, 01 May 2009 15:42:29 +0000 http://www.rtaylor.co.uk/?p=1238#comment-9000 Good report, Richard. And yes, an outbreak of common sense. Let's hope it turns into a pandemic. :) So, is this new protocol available yet? Will we be able to see it before it is applied to one of these schemes? Yes, I too am interested in how many tree officers Cambridge Council employs. I appreciate that there can be a lot of work for them to do in that they have to review and manage the trees which have TPOs as well as comment on (or produce) planting or felling schemes... but how many are there? Good report, Richard. And yes, an outbreak of common sense. Let’s hope it turns into a pandemic. :)

So, is this new protocol available yet? Will we be able to see it before it is applied to one of these schemes?

Yes, I too am interested in how many tree officers Cambridge Council employs. I appreciate that there can be a lot of work for them to do in that they have to review and manage the trees which have TPOs as well as comment on (or produce) planting or felling schemes… but how many are there?

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