Council's pledge on Pier Gardens revamp: Trees will be chopped down but we will 'help' wildlife - honestly!

                                     

A splendid specimen, but this seafront sycamore is earmarked for lopping.
 According to NELC, this is because it is seeping sap on to the footpath, but our investigation this afternoon revealed this not to the the case. There was not a single drop of sap. 

TREE surgeons will arrive in Cleethorpes next week to start felling trees ahead of the proposed part-transformation of Pier Gardens into a metropolitan-style plaza and multi-use recreation area.

The contract has been awarded to Acer Tree Care.

Two dead trees opposite Cleethorpes Library on Alexandra Road will be first for the chop.

More controversially, another tree - this time a healthy sycamore on Central Promenade - is due to be lopped, apparently for no other reason than it is said to drop sap.

Depending on the final design for the Pier Gardens revamp, more trees and/or  shrubs may be removed as the project progresses.

Particularly vulnerable could be those in the wildlife garden and picnic area which might block the view from the proposed new amenity building (assuming this project proceeds).  

This part of Pier Gardens has been earmarked to become a concourse to be known as 'Gateway Plaza' which is expected to  part-mirror the recently-completed Riverhead scheme in Grimsby by including an extensive area of paving. 

North East Lincolnshire Council insist the designers  have made "wildlife and planting key to the ideas - with green space and biodiversity central to many of the areas".

As yet, NELC has not detailed in what ways biodiversity will be enhanced given that  most of the replacement planting will only be cosmetic - for instance, ornamental grasses and pines that have little if any value to wildlife such as birds and pollinating insects.

The only birds likely to benefit are feral pigeons and gulls which will welcome the chance to forage for scraps from the many chippies and other fast food eateries in the area.

The council has suggested that nestboxes will be installed but these will only be of merit if there birds to occupy them and disturbance is of the minimum.

The final design plans for the Pier Gardens refurbishment scheme are expected to be released later this year after which NELC has confirmed that a formal planning application will be submitted.

In the meantime, the tree-felling team is due to start work next Wednesday September 4.

Dead trees can provide a home for insects, roosting birds and unusual species of fungus, but no one is likely to miss these two specimens which are due to be felled on Wednesday 

Vulnerable - the wildlife garden and picnic area where the trees could block the views across the plaza from the proposed amenity building

Also at high risk are the lawns - much loved by wagtails, robins and blackbirds. Ominously, there has been no assurance from NELC that these will be retained 

The Grimsby News says: If any householder wanted to fell - or even just lop - a tree in a conservation area, he or she would be obliged to apply to the council for planning permission. Why is it that NELC is entitled to chop down as many trees as it likes in the Central Cleethorpes Conservation Area without requiring any such consent? How is that fair - or even legal? As for the authority's claim that the refurbishment will enhance wildlife, how can such an assertion be made when it has yet to carry out an audit of the wildlife that currently exists? Pier Gardens may indeed benefit from some improvement but probably not in the ill-conceived ways proposed by NELC.