Man roots to save trees from chop

Resident Kenneth Murray is up-in-arms about the tree cutting proposals Enlarge Image

A resident in an upmarket street in Edinburgh is urging the council to avoid pruning a 200-year-old tree to make way for a temporary bus route.

Kenneth Murray has told BBC Scotland news website of his "outrage and upset" at proposals to cut branches which overhang onto Lansdowne Crescent.

Edinburgh City Council wants to prune dozens of trees along the street so buses can drive along the road.

Tram works in Haymarket will force buses to make the temporary diversion.

The trees grow in a private garden owned by residents from Grosvenor Crescent and Landsdowne Crescent.

Many of the trees overhang the road, which would cause an obstruction for double-decker buses.

It makes me feel very angry and upset to think they will cut these trees just to make way for buses for a temporary three-month-period Kenneth Murray

Some residents, including Mr Murray, are so concerned about the possible damage, they have offered to give up a line of parking bays to protect them.

Mr Murray has already managed to halt plans to cut back the trees after complaining to the council when signs went up on Sunday to restrict drivers from parking in order to make way for workmen to cut the trees.

The 49-year-old, who is chairman of a fund management firm, said trees could be killed by having branches removed during the summer months when sap was flowing.

He said: "I have told the council that we don't want our property cut but they are saying they are going to do it.

"It's absolutely outrageous as there is no need to cut these trees. It makes me feel very angry and upset to think they will cut these trees just to make way for buses for a temporary three-month-period.

"As well as this we risk killing the trees if they are to be cut while the sap is flowing.

Signs were put up on railings in Lansdowne Crescent

"This council is always banging on about the need for being environmentally sensitive, but then it does this."

Under the plans, the trees would be cut back to five metres high from the road and Lansdowne Crescent would be turned temporarily to a one-way-street.

Councillor Joanna Mowat, whose city centre ward covers the area, said: "I have asked Tie (Transport Initiatives Edinburgh) to mark out what they would be taking away and show the residents.

"There is a compromise to be had as parking is a big issue in the area."

An Edinburgh City Council spokeswoman said: "We understand residents desire to protect their trees, our goal in pruning them was to ensure that vehicles on the public road are not impeded and also to protect the trees from substantial damage from moving vehicles.

"Our agrobiologist has been closely involved in the process and was satisfied that pruning them was the best course of action.

"We will now meet with residents to come to an amicable solution on taking this matter forward."