Council criticised for clearing trees and plants

A council scheme that saw trees cut down, rose bushes removed and flowerbeds turfed over in a North Yorkshire town has been criticised by residents.

Plants were cleared from Friary Gardens and a roundabout on Darlington Road in Richmond as part of the works by North Yorkshire Council.

Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons, who did not know the plants were due to be removed, said the scheme had "upset" local residents.

But Jonathan Clubb, the council's head of parks and grounds, said the works had become "necessary due to the current condition of the areas".

Workers cleared plants and trees from the gardens and roundabout on Darlington Road last week, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The areas are both managed by North Yorkshire Council.

Parsons said he had received phone calls and emails, and had been stopped in the street by people asking about the work.

He said workers had "ripped [the planting] apart with no explanation and quite a lot of people are upset by it".

"I've said I want it all reinstated - if they want to make changes they have to do so with the people concerned," Parsons said.

Alyson Swift, who lives opposite the roundabout, said it was a "little oasis" and a refuge for birds before it was cleared.

"We used to hear a tawny owl perched in the trees on the roundabout at night," she said.

Richmond Town Council was advised work was going to take place, but was not informed about the extent of the changes, a spokesperson said.

Clubb said the council understood the importance of the areas to both residents and wildlife.

"That is why we are currently carrying out improvement work at both locations," he said.

"This is being undertaken as part of our annual winter works programme and has become necessary due to the current condition of the areas."

He said flowerbeds that were under the shade of trees in Friary Gardens had been "moved into brighter spaces," with others being "refreshed".

Part of the footpath was also resurfaced.

"In relation to the roundabout, the rose beds were thinly planted, the small trees had been weakened by ivy cover and the bedding was in need of refreshing," Clubb said.

The proposed improvements would include a new grassed area, bedding and trees, which it was hoped would increase biodiversity in the years to come, he added.

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