City centre trees to be replaced

The Hayes, Cardiff city centre

Cardiff Council is to replace two trees in a city centre shopping area this summer after it discovered they posed a danger to the public.

The Hayes Island area is home to six mature London Plane trees and one flowering cherry tree.

Tree specialists found one of the planes and the cherry tree are in poor condition and are a potential hazard.

Both trees will be replaced with two new plane trees in the winter - the normal time for planting.

An independent report discovered that the plane tree (Platanus x hispanica) had a major cavity in its base increasing the possibility of its future collapse.

It also uncovered a bacterial canker in the cherry tree (Prunus avium) which reduced its safe life expectancy.

Safety fears

As a result of the findings, the council's trees officers and independent arboricultural specialists decided to remove both the trees on public safety grounds.

However, the remaining five planes trees were found to be in a reasonable condition, given their age and location, and will remain in place.

A council spokesperson said: "We have a responsibility and a duty to take action where disease is present and as a result, one plane tree and the cherry tree will be felled this summer and replaced in the winter."

The St David's 2 Partnership, which is currently carrying out a £535m redevelopment of the area and turning it into a new shopping complex, has agreed to provide two new tree pits within its plans for the replacements plants.