Bournemouth man's four year wait for council to replant tree

But finally, 74-year-old Richard Biggs has an answer.

The pensioner has been on a four-year mission to reinstate a tree outside his property following a car crash.

And now, the Cudnell Avenue resident has been told his campaign has been successful after intervention by the Daily Echo.

Mr Biggs has had years of correspondence with the former Bournemouth Borough Council and current BCP Council in a bid to replace a tree outside his home after a driver crashed into it and uprooted it.

The former tree (far left) next to Cudnell Avenue in Bournemouth

Mr Biggs feels the tree added to the “beauty” and amenity of the road and says the tarmac used to cover the removed stump is a trip hazard due to a three-inch dip.

Despite providing evidence of BCP Council stating they would replant the tree during the next planting season in 2018, the authority has not followed through on these statements – resulting in Mr Biggs offering to pay £500 for the replanting himself.

The council also recognised, in communications with Mr Biggs, that the dip in the pavement did represent a “trip hazard”.

The sunken tarmac "trip hazard" where the uprooted tree used to be

The retired timber buyer told the Echo: “There are lots of trees dotted around this lovely estate and I’ve been here for 30 years. I’m quite proud of this road as when the trees bloom it looks beautiful.

“It was a lovely old tree and I feel they’re just not interested. We’re not asking for a lot, it’s the principle of the situation when they say they’ll do something and then don’t.”

Mr Biggs was also supported in his attempts to rebuild the visual amenity of the road by Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns.

Following enquiries by the Daily Echo, a BCP Council spokesperson said: “We have just taken delivery of the trees for this year’s replacement planting programme and a tree will be allocated for planting outside Cudnell Avenue at no cost to Mr Biggs.”

Bournemouth resident Richard Biggs who has been trying to get a tree replanted outside his house for four years

Reacting, Mr Biggs said: “Of course I’m pleased, my concern is they said the very same thing four years ago. I’m happy a bit of action has been taken but I’m just worried they’ll plant a little four-foot sapling.

“As I said, if they are planning to plant a small tree I’d happily pay the excess for a bigger eight to 10 foot tree. It’s got to be the right one so it fits the rest of the trees down the road. It may sound stupid to some people but when in bloom, all the trees in uniform make a big difference.”