Rotting trees felled at park (From Hounslow And Brentford Times)

Rotting trees felled at Gunnersbury Park

11:00am Sunday 27th June 2010 in News By Joanna Kilvington

More than 50 trees are to be cut down after they were discovered to be a “risk” to the public.

A survey carried out at Gunnersbury Park found 58 of the 2,492 trees had significant levels of rot and decay.

Work to fell the trees began this week after it was feared the affected trees could be a hazard to residents and users of the park. Further work will be carried out to remove the stumps.

The council survey also found 213 trees required works to make them healthy and safe.

The work began on Tuesday and is expected to take between six and eight weeks.

A spokesman for Hounslow Council said: “We will also monolith several trees, which involves making them safe, but allowing them to die naturally. This provides habitat for a wide range of wildlife we are keen to encourage. We will be planting new trees around the park.”

Last year it was suggested up to 400 trees might be chopped down at the park to make way for private developments. Officials claimed selling a 5.6acre strip of land would be the only way to raise the £39m needed to redevelop the park and its deteriorating buildings.

Brentford ward councillor Matt Harmer sent out a message to residents this week to assure them the current tree felling was not the start of a housing development.