| |
Who axed plane trees?
• I AM delighted to see that the council has finally woken up to the beauty of the borough’s trees (Help protect our trees, urges Town Hall team, October 17). The Green Party raised this issue more than a year ago, noting how 1,500 trees had been cut down in the preceding five years, and it is certainly positive news that the council has finally responded to our calls to reconsider its approach.
However, it seems disingenuous of the Lib Dems to now claim to be concerned about the loss of the trees outside the Guardian offices. Was it not a planning committee chaired by a Lib Dem councillor who approved the scheme in the first place, knowing full well it involved the loss of these trees?
CAROLINE ALLEN
Islington Green Party
• COUNCILLOR Katie Dawson was clearly mistaken in her claims last week about the number of street trees in Islington (More than aesthetic frills, city trees have a vital role, October 24). She claimed this borough lost more than 1,000 trees last year, and cited a Greater London Authority report as evidence.
What a piece of spin! That report – publicly available online – clearly states that Islington saw a net gain of 1,231 trees over a five-year period, an 11.41 per cent increase. Neighbouring Haringey only got 388 new trees. Hackney did better with 1,025, but still far behind smaller Islington.
We are committed to protecting trees in Islington as well as continuing to increase the number of street trees. I hope the council’s new review of tree policy, which Cllr Dawson will be part of, will support us in this.
CLLR RUTH POLLING
Lib Dem executive member for leisure and equalities
|
 |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
