Meeting called over trees on Chapel Lane

Sefton Council have called for a meeting with tree experts to discuss independent inspection findings regarding trees in Chapel Lane, Formby.

A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “As promised, we agreed with Formby Parish Council and local councillors to defer the tree removal works planned in Formby Village to give an opportunity for them to commission an independent inspection into the condition of the trees.

“While we remain very concerned about the health and safety risks associated with these trees, we want to ensure the views of local communities are heard and that we take a balanced view without compromising the safety of pedestrians and road users.

“We have now received the full report and while there is agreement on three out of the five trees, there are still issues in respect of the other two trees and we are seeking clarity on a couple of key points, particularly on the assessment of the health and safety risk, which remains a priority for us.

“To ensure we reach a mutually agreeable sustainable solution, we would like the opportunity for our own internal tree experts and the author of the report to come together to discuss some aspects in more detail. We are currently waiting for this to be arranged.

“Once this conversation has taken place, the Council will provide a detailed assessment of the report and determine its decision in relation to these two trees.

“No work will commence on any tree until 5th March 2018 at the earliest to allow for discussions to take place.”