Today I chaired a meeting between a number of councillors and representatives from the group which has led the campaign to oppose the removal of the oak tree in the council’s car park in the High Street.
The aim of the meeting was to communicate with the group that after an extensive and exhaustive four-year process we have, on the advice of our legal team and our indemnity insurer, taken the decision to remove both the oak tree and the nearby horse chestnut tree.
The decision has not been taken lightly and comes after numerous surveys, including one undertaken on behalf of the campaign group, which found the two trees are a contributory factor in the damage to nearby properties.
We spoke at length of the council’s desire to work with the group to bring the community together in order to create a positive and worthwhile legacy by which the oak tree can be recognised and remembered.
It is the council’s hope that we can come together to work on how we can create something positive and we will be meeting with campaigners in the weeks to come to discuss how best we can move forward together.
Cllr Jon Guy, Mayor of Wivenhoe