Devon County Council

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From Louise Raymond, Exeter 383654, December 18,2006

A WELLL-known Barnstaple avenue will be given a new lease of life when a much-needed maintenance programme gets underway.

The avenue of trees alongside Eastern Avenue was planted shortly after the road was built in 1974, and forms an attractive vista along one of the main routes into Barnstaple.

In response to public concern, Devon County Council carried out a health check on the trees, and as a result recommended a number of measures to secure the long-term future of the trees. The Council has been working in close consultation with North Devon District Council, Barnstaple Town Council and local residents and businesses.

Work will involve removing every other tree along the Gould Road side of the avenue, to give enough space for the trees to continue to grow. The trees are mainly Silver Maple (Acer Saccharinum), with three Norway Maple (Acer Platanoides) and one red oak (Quercus Rubra).

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council's Executive Member for Environment, said: "Removing some of the trees is vital to ensuring the long-term prosperity of the others - it is a short-term loss for a long-term gain. If the trees were not thinned out the branches would overlap with each other, weakening the whole row and posing a potential hazard for both road users and pedestrians.

"The work will result in an initial change to the appearance of the avenue, but with the 30 or so trees remaining we will still be able to retain the avenue effect. Once the trees have been able to flourish further they will once again provide the graceful arches along this important entry route to Barnstaple."

The funds to pay for the work have been donated by the County Councillor for Barnstaple South, Councillor Christopher Haywood, through a new arrangement enabling County Committees to donate one-off sums of money for local projects.

Said Councillor Haywood: "This is a very welcome project which has been a long time in consultation to get what we hope will be of long-term benefit to the avenue.

"If the trees were allowed to intertwine with each other it will end up killing all of them, so this measure is designed to preserve the remaining trees, which will continue to enhance the avenue. With regular maintenance we can keep the avenue as a visually attractive approach to the south end of Barnstaple, and I hope residents will be pleased with this outcome."

Work by local contractors WoodenTops will start in January, and is due to take approximately a week.

• Leader of the Council - Cllr Brian Greenslade
• Chief Executive -- Phil Norrey

• Budget £800 million
• Key investments include:
• Schools £349 million
• Adult and Community Services £164 million
• Environment, Economy and Culture £106 million
• Children and Young People £101 million

• Other important County Council support includes:
• Building programme: £185 million for new schools, roads, care services, libraries and recycling centres

• Political make-up:
• County Council seats: 62
• 33 Liberal Democrat
• 23 Conservative
• 4 Labour
• 2 Independent
• Next County Council elections: May 7, 2009

• Key stats:
• Population: 741,000
• Schools: 365
• Pupils: 96,200
• Children looked after: 584
• Adults helped to live at home: 17,622
• Residential and nursing care: 4,212 adults
• Libraries and Mobile Libraries: 61
• Roads: 12,831 kms (7,973 miles)
• Bridges: 3,500
• Public Rights of Way: 4,960 kms (3,200 miles)
• Streetlights: 71,000
• Illuminated road signs: 10,917
• Recycling Centres: 20
• Recycling rate: 49.21%

Figures may be subject to change

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