Call for action over danger trees as car is crushed

The pine tree that fell on top of a car in Knyveton Road The pine tree that fell on top of a car in Knyveton Road

CONCERNED residents are calling for action after a large pine tree fell and crushed a parked car.

Fortunately there was nobody in the silver Renault Clio, which was parked in Knyveton Road, Bournemouth, when the tree fell shortly after 8pm on Tuesday.

But this is the second tree to have fallen in this area in the past two years and residents are worried other trees may be unsafe.

They are now calling on the council to start replacing some of the older trees that appear to be leaning and could potentially pose a problem.

Simon Goodwin, the proprietor of the Cransley Hotel in Knyveton Road, said: “It does concern me. Knyveton Road is obviously full of pine trees that have been here for 100 years or more and many are well past their sell-by date.

“I just think they need to be lopped. They need to be replaced with smaller trees. It’s just becoming a danger now.

“We’ve got several in our car park and we have to keep having the dead stuff removed from them. Because of the tree preservation orders we can’t do anything else with them and there’s always a risk they could fall and injure someone or damage a car.”

Jonathan Perry, his co-proprietor, said: “Another tree came down in the same spot two years ago. Just like this time, that occurred when there was no wind at all. It is worrying.

“Other trees are leaning quite a lot. Sooner or later, there’s going to be someone either killed or hurt.”

Andy McDonald, parks manager for Bournemouth council, said: “We inspect all of the borough’s trees on a regular basis. The pine trees in this area were inspected recently but there were no indications that this tree posed any risk of falling.

“We are of course investigating what happened by unfortunately some trees do fall without any pre-warning or explanation. We will continue our inspections and if we have any concerns we will take the most appropriate action.”

Dorset Police confirmed the Renault was registered to a woman from Weston-Super-Mare. A lamppost was also damaged by the tree.

There was also a fallen tree at Colehill, when an oak tree crushed the perimeter fence at Colehill First School and fell over the footpath and verge. This incident, which also occurred on Tuesday evening, was dealt with by Dorset County Council, which made the area safe and erected temporary fencing.

Comments(27)

Your reporter in spain says...
10:22am Thu 11 Oct 12

2 trees in 2 years ......... Not exactly a deluge is it . But in revenge against the wicked trees ,let's cut them all down and replace them with concrete and bricks because they are worth money .who needs trees .theyre only the lungs of the world

Knee jerk nonsense ,we are not overwhelmed with reports of trees murdering people on a regular basis

Say-it-how-it-is says...
10:37am Thu 11 Oct 12

Your reporter in spain wrote:
2 trees in 2 years ......... Not exactly a deluge is it . But in revenge against the wicked trees ,let's cut them all down and replace them with concrete and bricks because they are worth money .who needs trees .theyre only the lungs of the world

Knee jerk nonsense ,we are not overwhelmed with reports of trees murdering people on a regular basis
Couldn't of said it better. We need tree's, not chop them down. As you said they are the lungs of the world. Without these we can't breath. And what Simon said is just stupid "It does concern me. Knyveton Road is obviously full of pine trees that have been here for 100 years or more and many are well past their sell-by date" Well past there sell by date. Is he for real. Trees live longer than 100 years. Why should they be chopped down because, oh yeah they are over 100 years now. Lets chop all trees.

a.g.o.g. says...
12:00pm Thu 11 Oct 12

We are far closer to human extinction relative to the present level of Oxygen in the air than we are Carbon Dioxide. We could live with near ten times the Co2 we have but would struggle with just a 25% reduction of Oxygen.

Tripod says...
12:17pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Simple answer: Paint Double Yellow Lines down the road, then trees can't fall on parked cars! ;-)

apop3d says...
1:01pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Actually if you can get past the tree huggers' knee jerk reaction, the real issue is that the council steadfastly refuses to allow trees that are a hazard to life and property be taken down.

We have applied twice to take down a pine that is destroying the foundation of our house and leaning precariously toward our neighbors. We have been denied both times. The prevailing climate seems to be that taking down ANY tree is bad, which is silly. Trees don't last forever. When this tree falls on our neighbor's house and they sue us for damages, will the council stand behind their decision by holding us harmless and making restitution? No, they won't.

A reasonable and responsible approach to tree management and conservation is what we need.

Miss Opinionated says...
1:41pm Thu 11 Oct 12

These monterey pines are dangerous and prone to falling wen they get too big. My parents 60 year old 80ft tree fell over a few years ago with very little warning. They have shallow roots and are very top heavy so it's inevitable really.

justanoldie says...
1:50pm Thu 11 Oct 12

very large trees close to homes, should be pruned to allow strong wind gusts clear passage. The "do not touch" policy has gone too far.

thevisitor says...
2:08pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Tripod wrote:
Simple answer: Paint Double Yellow Lines down the road, then trees can't fall on parked cars! ;-)
And make sure they are painted in time for next years Air Show. Then with all the tickets issued the council get their money back. Mouchel wouldnt have thought of that...mind you neither would Beasley

rayc says...
2:32pm Thu 11 Oct 12

A few years ago a bus hit a tree that was leaning into the road in Broadstone. The Council cut the tree down but were reprimanded by the local Lib dem councillor who said the tree should have been left in place as a traffic control measure.

manyogie says...
4:52pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Get the prossies to lean on the other side of em then.

Greggers says...
5:12pm Thu 11 Oct 12

apop3d wrote:
Actually if you can get past the tree huggers' knee jerk reaction, the real issue is that the council steadfastly refuses to allow trees that are a hazard to life and property be taken down. We have applied twice to take down a pine that is destroying the foundation of our house and leaning precariously toward our neighbors. We have been denied both times. The prevailing climate seems to be that taking down ANY tree is bad, which is silly. Trees don't last forever. When this tree falls on our neighbor's house and they sue us for damages, will the council stand behind their decision by holding us harmless and making restitution? No, they won't. A reasonable and responsible approach to tree management and conservation is what we need.
The council always puts trees before people's safety. With regard to the tree you describe - if the tree falls on your neighbour's house they can only obtain a judgement for damages against you if they can prove you've been negligent and, for example, not taken any action about a tree in an unsafe condition. As you've applied to the council to remove this tree and they have refused your application, then their arboricultural officer doesn't think that the tree is in an unsafe condition. If the tree subsequently causes damage, then the responsibility is his and the council's. I believe this applies for a year after the council's decision.
With regard to the trees in this story - if the trees are owned by the council then the responsibility is theirs to ensure the safety of the trees and they can be sued if it can be proved that they have shirked that responsibility.

Simon1964 says...
5:17pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Say-it-how-it-is wrote:
Your reporter in spain wrote:
2 trees in 2 years ......... Not exactly a deluge is it . But in revenge against the wicked trees ,let's cut them all down and replace them with concrete and bricks because they are worth money .who needs trees .theyre only the lungs of the world

Knee jerk nonsense ,we are not overwhelmed with reports of trees murdering people on a regular basis
Couldn't of said it better. We need tree's, not chop them down. As you said they are the lungs of the world. Without these we can't breath. And what Simon said is just stupid "It does concern me. Knyveton Road is obviously full of pine trees that have been here for 100 years or more and many are well past their sell-by date" Well past there sell by date. Is he for real. Trees live longer than 100 years. Why should they be chopped down because, oh yeah they are over 100 years now. Lets chop all trees.
I have no problem with trees, the charm of Knyveton Road is that it is an avenue of Pines and Larch trees, not "prossies" they left with Lily Langtry. I object to the council allowing these trees (out of their natural habitat) to grow so large without replacing them at intervals. These trees are top heavy and leaning dangerously. Why not remove half a dozen and replant every two or three years? The Beech Avenue by Kingston Lacy is far more historic than Knyveton Road and is to be replaced. Still with trees, not with concrete.
Incidently Say-it-how-it-is, "Couldn't HAVE" not "Couldn't OF"

Simon1964 says...
5:23pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Strangely the council have responsibility for these trees, although the trees and the land where they are planted is owned by the Meyrick Estates. Perhaps the Lord Meyrick should put his hand in his pocket and pay for the trees to be pruned, and not the council and the local tax payers?

Letcommonsenseprevail says...
6:45pm Thu 11 Oct 12

These trees are a **** nuisance and should be brought to book immediately. I mean who the hell do they think they are? Sheltering wildlife, providing timber, giving manking oxygen, holding the topsoil in place, adding to the food chain, etc, etc. Taking liberties, the lot of 'em.

Letcommonsenseprevail says...
6:47pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Letcommonsenseprevai
l
wrote:
These trees are a **** nuisance and should be brought to book immediately. I mean who the hell do they think they are? Sheltering wildlife, providing timber, giving manking oxygen, holding the topsoil in place, adding to the food chain, etc, etc. Taking liberties, the lot of 'em.
Mankind

Letcommonsenseprevail says...
6:49pm Thu 11 Oct 12

"Sell by date" ? Are these trees up for sale then? I'll have two.......

Letcommonsenseprevail says...
6:52pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Tripod wrote:
Simple answer: Paint Double Yellow Lines down the road, then trees can't fall on parked cars! ;-)
And if the trees fall down over the yellow lines, some nazi traffic warden can jump out from behind his bush and slap a ticket on it!! Trees would soon stop falling over after a couple of tickets!!!

Letcommonsenseprevail says...
6:55pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Simon1964 wrote:
Say-it-how-it-is wrote:
Your reporter in spain wrote:
2 trees in 2 years ......... Not exactly a deluge is it . But in revenge against the wicked trees ,let's cut them all down and replace them with concrete and bricks because they are worth money .who needs trees .theyre only the lungs of the world

Knee jerk nonsense ,we are not overwhelmed with reports of trees murdering people on a regular basis
Couldn't of said it better. We need tree's, not chop them down. As you said they are the lungs of the world. Without these we can't breath. And what Simon said is just stupid "It does concern me. Knyveton Road is obviously full of pine trees that have been here for 100 years or more and many are well past their sell-by date" Well past there sell by date. Is he for real. Trees live longer than 100 years. Why should they be chopped down because, oh yeah they are over 100 years now. Lets chop all trees.
I have no problem with trees, the charm of Knyveton Road is that it is an avenue of Pines and Larch trees, not "prossies" they left with Lily Langtry. I object to the council allowing these trees (out of their natural habitat) to grow so large without replacing them at intervals. These trees are top heavy and leaning dangerously. Why not remove half a dozen and replant every two or three years? The Beech Avenue by Kingston Lacy is far more historic than Knyveton Road and is to be replaced. Still with trees, not with concrete.
Incidently Say-it-how-it-is, "Couldn't HAVE" not "Couldn't OF"
Charm of knyveton road? Who are you trying to kid?

Treedoctor says...
8:54pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Whoever is responsible, the evidence points to these trees clearly posing a risk as things stand. And it isn't a question of trees vs humankind, it's a question of the two living in harmony. I imagine some serious surgery will help restore the balance.

Your reporter in spain says...
9:12pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Treedoctor wrote:
Whoever is responsible, the evidence points to these trees clearly posing a risk as things stand. And it isn't a question of trees vs humankind, it's a question of the two living in harmony. I imagine some serious surgery will help restore the balance.
I doubt it I think the Clio suffered fatal injuries
But on a serious note ,you cannot predict when a tree will let go , so you cut down one that's listing and in the next breath of wind ,what appears to be a perfectly sound one topples , we live in the new forest ,near as **** it and the downside of living in a forest is that nature sometimes does its own thing , if you are unlucky enough to be where it falls ,that's the way of the world but these things don't go quietly ,if an 80 ft tree is ripped out of the ground you hear it go , believe me

Treedoctor says...
10:36pm Thu 11 Oct 12

If you think a Clio will survive a fallen tree relatively unscathed, then you are clearly confusing it with a tank .... but I was thinking rather of the harm a fallen tree could cause to human life, or a building. Don't underestimate the power of trees!

Letcommonsenseprevail says...
10:59pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Clio's deserve to have trees fall on them, they're horrid little cars.

Lord Spring says...
11:32pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Get a wood burner installed this year. and clean up 1,000,000 pines planted in Pine City.

weevie says...
6:30am Fri 12 Oct 12

(Is it beyond the wit of Echo web team to stop this idiot from posting his Ads?)

The Firs were there first. The whole area was heathland, right up to the clifftop.

APC303 says...
10:31am Fri 12 Oct 12

justanoldie wrote:
very large trees close to homes, should be pruned to allow strong wind gusts clear passage. The "do not touch" policy has gone too far.
Please tell me more about your understanding of your deep knowledge of the axiom of uniform stress and the strategy of the minimal lever arm....

Simon1964 says...
12:39pm Fri 12 Oct 12

weevie wrote:
(Is it beyond the wit of Echo web team to stop this idiot from posting his Ads?)

The Firs were there first. The whole area was heathland, right up to the clifftop.
http://south-coast-c
entral.co.uk/pines/p
ines.htm

Actually they weren't there. They were introduced by the Victorians. The heathland did not include trees

Letcommonsenseprevail says...
12:49pm Fri 12 Oct 12

Simon1964 wrote:
weevie wrote: (Is it beyond the wit of Echo web team to stop this idiot from posting his Ads?) The Firs were there first. The whole area was heathland, right up to the clifftop.
http://south-coast-c entral.co.uk/pines/p ines.htm Actually they weren't there. They were introduced by the Victorians. The heathland did not include trees
Will you guys stop PINING on? You're giving me the NEEDLE. Perhaps these trees should be CONED off.

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