Ros Hathorn's campaign

Trees in Orchard Park have damaged pavements in locations around Orchard Park. Street trees provide an enormous benefit to communities offering shade in the summer, access to nature, and are part of what makes Orchard Park special. Unfortunately some of the trees have not been planted in the right place or the right way.

The trees are staying so I’ve made sure that we are always on top of any damage they cause and focus on ways to keep pavements safe and, where possible, alter the environment the trees are growing in to reduce future issues.

On Circus Drive the block pavement was rising up almost vertically in places causing a serious trip hazard. I ensured that these lifted blocks were replaced and the pavement smoothed out making it much safer. The space outside the community centre on Central Avenue is community council land. I raised the issue and worked with council biodiversity officers and the community council to develop a plan. We removed an area of paving which should give the tree roots space to thrive whilst retaining a generous amount of pavement. I worked with a group of volunteers to create a new community flower bed where the blocks were removed.

Another impact of trees is autumn debris, dead leaves and so forth, collecting on roads and pavements making them slippy or blocking drains. I worked with colleagues to get Orchard Park on the map for regular street cleaning and cyclic gully/ drain cleaning.