Cumberland Council is informing residents and businesses of planned tree maintenance works along the road network in response to Ash Dieback disease.
Following surveys of Cumberland’s Road Network (including most A roads, some B roads, and C roads), several areas with Ash trees and other trees have been identified as requiring attention. Some trees need to be felled immediately, while others will undergo further maintenance or inspection.
The council is working closely with parish and town councils, as well as landowners whose Ash trees are infected and may pose a hazard. This proactive, collaborative approach helps landowners coordinate with appropriate contractors to manage infected trees and prevent risks to people or property.
Ash Dieback affects Ash trees (Fraxinus ssp.). It is the worst tree disease since the Dutch Elm outbreak in the late 1970s, which effectively wiped-out mature Elms from the British landscape. It is predicted that within the next decade, up to 90% of all Ash trees across the UK will be affected, leading to significant tree removal.
Infected trees can become brittle and pose a safety risk as they may fall or shatter without warning, which requires the use of heavy machinery for removal to maintain the safety of the operative responsible for the works.
Cumberland Council assures the public that tree removal is a last resort, in line with its policy to only remove trees that are dead, dying, diseased, or dangerous. Only trees meeting these criteria will be removed.
Residents in areas directly affected by tree removal will receive letters from the Council providing detailed explanations for the removal.
Cumberland Council wishes to thank the community for their continued support and patience while these works take place.
For more information about the disease and how to spot it, please go to the Woodland Trust website.
If landowners have received a letter regarding felling Ash trees and need more assistance, please either go to the Cumberland Council website or contact Cumbria Highways on 0300 303 2992.