REGARDING your story about the felling of trees on land near Joseph Rowntree School, (Evening Press, November 17) our head of parks and gardens did consult with the chairman of the New Earswick Residents Forum or the chairman of the New Earswick parish council, after receiving an independent report on the dangerous state of two trees in the village.
The diseased centre of one of the trees is clearly visible in your picture.
They accepted that we were obliged to act for health and safety reasons and that it would have been irresponsible of the JRHT to ignore the independent report into the condition of the trees which we had received from consulting arboriculturists. City of York Council issued their necessary approvals and confirmed they had no objections.
It is always sad to lose mature trees, and while we hope to have saved a third, we are replacing the two felled trees with three new beeches.
In relation to the development of the old school playing field, we are in consultation with residents' representatives about possible enhancement of this underused area, financed by development of part of the site.
We hope for a valuable amenity area and some environmentally-friendly housing. Discussions are at a very early stage and there is no connection between this and our action on the trees.
Roland Crooke,
Director of Housing Operations,
Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust,
The Homestead,
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