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"Environmental crime" was sensationalist

4:14pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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Barnet Council has an excellent record on tree management and has the highest number of street trees of any London borough therefore I was astounded to read your sensationalist article Hundreds of trees cut down in 'environmental crime'.

Trees within the Glebeland Nature Reserve were inspected by officers of Barnet Council and where potential risks such as falling branches or complete collapse were identified the trees were felled or pollarded.

Many of the trees felled by the Council overhung the busy North Circular Road therefore the decision was taken to remove this potential danger to residents and the travelling public. To knowingly leave such dangers in place would amount to gross negligence on the part of Barnet Council that could have resulted in casualties to those using the nature reserve or motorists using the North Circular Road.

A new management plan for the Glebeland Nature Reserve is under review and will start in 2009. Working in conjunction with the volunteer groups who undertake conservation work at the site this plan will identify the management requirements to further encourage wildlife and develop bio-diversity."

Councillor Matthew Offord
Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport
London Borough of Barnet

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Rog T, Mill Hill says...
8:09pm Thu 24 Apr 08

Matthew, Why did you go into politics? I can't believe it was to vandalise local woodlands. This is a complete disgrace. I've had a chat with a tree surgeon about this, who is familair with the area and you are being extremely economical with the truth. Many of the trees were healthy and did not need rermoving, others could have been pruned. You know that this was done to save money (it is cheaper to chop them down once than to prune them annually). As with everything else Barnet Council does, you are incompetant. Why did you chop them down prior to the review you mention? I just hope that anyone who cares about our local environment reads this and sees what the Tories are up to before they consider casting a vote for Boris Johnson.

I must say you lot are very stupid to show your hand so close to the election. You really deserve to lose !!!

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James, NW11 says...
9:19pm Thu 24 Apr 08

It was a similar story with the felling of many of the grand parade of horse chestnuts in West Heath Avenue NW11 a few months ago, supposedly because they were dangerously diseased. Most trees over a certain age have some lesions, but my father who has worked for the forestry commission inspected the stumps and considered that only one of them might potentially have been dangerous.

The contractors also caused noise nuisance milling the timber to sawdust on location.

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Susan A., Barnet says...
6:59pm Sun 27 Apr 08

As one of those people who has complained time and time again about branches from trees hanging down and potentially being a health risk, I am delighted to hear that someone has FINALLY listened to me.

Having been ignored by my Labour MP on numerous occasions, I am glad Cllr Offord has done something about it.

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Don't Call Me Dave, People#s Republic of Barnet says...
12:49am Tue 29 Apr 08

Rog T

It’s a little unfair to tarnish Boris with the council’s brush. Barnet Tories have long been a world unto themselves. Nobody told them they were supposed to be green these days! In any event, the councillors only do what the officers tell them to do as they have lost the capacity to think for themselves.

There are 3 good reasons why people should ignore your implied call not to vote for Boris on Thursday:
1. He’s not Ken
2. Er..
3. That’s it!


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