5 September 2013
The only remaining fruit tree in Christ Church Eccleston's former orchard field has been saved from the axe following objections from local residents and Green party activists.
A number of trees were scheduled for removal as part of United Utilities' scheme to site an overflow tank for excess storm water in the field behind Christ Church. United Utilities plan to use the orchard field as a temporary site compound during construction and the pear tree was in the way.
St Helens Council’s Planning Committee this week insisted that the much-loved landmark must stay.
Andrew Brownlow of St Helens Green Party says:
"When Francis Williams and I first realised that their plan involved tree loss in Church Lane, we were horrified. Together with local residents we sent letters of objection in an attempt to save the character of the lane.
Francis adds:
"We didn't want to stop the whole plan. It's basically a necessary one, as there have been problems locally with drains backing up during storms, which has spilled sewage onto peoples' driveways, even into their houses."
An undersized sewer takes both rain water run-off and sewage away from the area. The sewer can't be widened because of insufficient clearance over Pikes Bridge, where Mill Brook runs under Church Lane. The United Utilities scheme will relieve the problem by pumping excess water into the holding tank while storms last, before returning it to the sewage system once the rain has subsided.
Francis continues:
"Their original plans would have damaged the area just too much. The Christ Church Vicarage entrance would have been permanently widened, killing a massive canopy beech tree in the process."
Following objections from local people, council officers have worked tirelessly to help United Utilities modify their plan. Though two beech trees will still be lost closer to the Chapel Lane, and part of the Vicarage entrance will be temporarily dismantled, the biggest beech tree has been saved.
Andrew continues:
"With the modified plan, once all the work is finished, the scheme should bed nicely into the character of the road. But there was still one sore point, which was the orchard field pear tree. We've both known this tree since we were boys, and we hated to think that it would be lost.
"Fortunately, when I asked the council's Planning Committee to save the tree, they gave me a very sympathetic hearing, unanimously approving both our amendment and the much-improved scheme. We'd like to thank the committee members and the council's officers for showing their concern for nature and the environment in such a thoughtful way.
"It's a beautiful tree with a lovely shape. In the spring it's a mass of blossom, and right now it's covered in small pears. It’s an old tree, and it is starting to hollow out, but it’s beautiful. And if just being old was a good enough reason for things to be killed, we'd all be in trouble."
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