Emergency woodland works planned in Wooler after tree fears raised

Several trees at the Tory, the steeply sloping site banking on to Church Street, have been deemed ‘unfit for purpose’.

"Emergency works will be done in the next three weeks,” said Wooler Parish Council chairman Mark Mather.

Ivy will also be cut back and trees re-inspected.

Longer term plans for the area are also being progressed following a meeting with representatives from the Forestry Commission and Northumberland County Council.

"It was a very worthwhile meeting,” said Cllr Mather. “We’ve got an idea now of where we are heading.

"We have been listening to a number of complaints from local residents who want the Tory site cleared up.

"We can all see there is a problem with the high trees and it’s one that should have been dealt with 20 years ago. It would have been easy to solve then but it’s now huge.”

He felt a clear fell licence for a five year period could be applied for so the works could be done gradually.

"We would have to draw up a plan of which trees we want to keep, which are at a height which can be managed and are in a safe location, and put that on our application,” Cllr Mather explained. “It would be a clear fell licence but we wouldn’t be intending to clear fell the site.”

Further discussions would be needed about access to remove the timber.

A replanting scheme would be planned, with smaller, native species such as hawthorn and cherry trees planted.

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