Cyclist injured as tree branch is thrown from York bridge (From York Press)

.. half term ..

Knew it would be that bridge. Used to play there myself when I was a kid, and unfortunately u have no grasp at t ayoung age what damage your actions can do.

I had stones thrown at me from that bridge about 10 years ago, luckily I was driving and the damage was very superficial compared to what happened here.

Tree 'surgeons' were working to take trees down on one side of that bridge last wednesday. Some of the branches were chipped but the vast majority of the timber was left behind and in a dangerous state. The chips were also left behind in random piles.This area borders a local playpark and if the local kids started playing on the fallen limbs, only for some of them to roll, legs could get trapped and potentially broken. (I have pictures). Most of this timber has since been removed by members of the public, presumably for firewood but the mess left behind is awful, and not for the first time either. The muppets that felled the trees were presumably working for Sustrans who oversee that cycle track. They had little in the way of PPE gear and therefore were presumably un-certificated for working with chainsaws. There is now a gaping hole in the tree perimeter of the park where beautiful trees once were! Admittedly, not their fault for a branch being chucked over the nearby bridge but they could have at least taken the ammunition away!!!

I've had missiles thrown at me from this bridge in the past whilst cycling. The Sustrans cycle track unfortunately seems to attract anti social behaviour

Missiles?? Wow, really??

Were the Taliban operating in the area or did you just mean a few twigs?

As soon as I started reading I knew which bridge it would be. I used to live just up the road from the bridge and it was an all to common site to see the teenagers dropping items on top of cars and other vehicles as they passed under the bridge.

It was pointless to call the police as if they did ever bother to show up the little so and so's were gone long before they got there.

I'd like to urge caution about identity claims re the tree felling contractors. The Police enquiries will determine where responsibility lies, and it will be helpful to pass any information to them. The HSE may have a subsequent role. Best not to colour the debate at present.
The Sustrans regional office has been made aware of this media article.

YorkPatrol wrote:
Missiles?? Wow, really??

Were the Taliban operating in the area or did you just mean a few twigs?

Dictionary definition of missile:- 'that which be thrown or shot to do damage'.

I have had stones and hard crab apples thrown at me from that bridge.

Mister Sheen wrote:
Tree 'surgeons' were working to take trees down on one side of that bridge last wednesday. Some of the branches were chipped but the vast majority of the timber was left behind and in a dangerous state. The chips were also left behind in random piles.This area borders a local playpark and if the local kids started playing on the fallen limbs, only for some of them to roll, legs could get trapped and potentially broken. (I have pictures). Most of this timber has since been removed by members of the public, presumably for firewood but the mess left behind is awful, and not for the first time either. The muppets that felled the trees were presumably working for Sustrans who oversee that cycle track. They had little in the way of PPE gear and therefore were presumably un-certificated for working with chainsaws. There is now a gaping hole in the tree perimeter of the park where beautiful trees once were! Admittedly, not their fault for a branch being chucked over the nearby bridge but they could have at least taken the ammunition away!!!

Depending on what company, A you do not need to be registered to use a chainsaw again depending on company and common sense you do not need to wear ppe to use a chainsaw there is no law against this, personally i find your comment shocking as you were the 1 to see this ammunition before it was thrown yet you did not act your partly to blame for this incident!!!!

postie89 wrote:

Mister Sheen wrote:
Tree 'surgeons' were working to take trees down on one side of that bridge last wednesday. Some of the branches were chipped but the vast majority of the timber was left behind and in a dangerous state. The chips were also left behind in random piles.This area borders a local playpark and if the local kids started playing on the fallen limbs, only for some of them to roll, legs could get trapped and potentially broken. (I have pictures). Most of this timber has since been removed by members of the public, presumably for firewood but the mess left behind is awful, and not for the first time either. The muppets that felled the trees were presumably working for Sustrans who oversee that cycle track. They had little in the way of PPE gear and therefore were presumably un-certificated for working with chainsaws. There is now a gaping hole in the tree perimeter of the park where beautiful trees once were! Admittedly, not their fault for a branch being chucked over the nearby bridge but they could have at least taken the ammunition away!!!

Depending on what company, A you do not need to be registered to use a chainsaw again depending on company and common sense you do not need to wear ppe to use a chainsaw there is no law against this, personally i find your comment shocking as you were the 1 to see this ammunition before it was thrown yet you did not act your partly to blame for this incident!!!!

I didn't say "registered", I said "certificated", I.e. trained to use a chainsaw. Any organisation or company allowing its operatives to use a chainsaw without such training and subsequent certification (at the very least CS31, City & Guilds) would be open to a massive amount of potential litigation or HSE investigation by doing so in the event of an accident. They're incredibly dangerous machines in the wrong hands. Good hire shops wont let them go out unless you can present such certificates. Furthermore, to use one without helmet, visor, ear defenders, Kevlar-fronted boots and trousers with chain-arresting fibres in is utterly foolhardy. This gear exists for a very good reason!

(There something about your tone that makes me think that you're one of the above contractors to which I've made reference!)

I've gone to some lengths, amongst others, to make sure that the site has been made safe for/from the local kids. Unfortunately, because of the vast amount of debris left lying around (probably around three tonnes!) it wasn't able to be shifted before the incident on Thursday night.

PP - I'm aware you're well connected with Sustrans so please be so good as to raise merry hell over this as a lot of local people are less than impressed with the outcome.