Proposed tree work in Tain

The three Highland Councillors for Tain and Easter Ross are seeking the views of Tain residents over the future of two large Cypress trees in the Rose Garden in the town’s High Street.
 
The Highland Council’s Forestry Officer Nick Richard recently surveyed the trees with a view to trimming the trees back to allow restoration of the reach of the town’s CCTV camera surveying the area.
 
Nick said: “The two large Cypress trees are showing signs of decline.  This may be attributable to the age of the trees but could also have been accelerated by root disturbance.  In addition the trees are growing hard against the old stone wall and although there does not appear to be damage at present, this may become an issue for the future.”
 
Councillor Alasdair Rhind said that he and his fellow councillors felt now would be the best time to remove the trees but wanted to gauge public opinion about the move first.
 
He said: “If the trees are to come down we need to move fast.  The Tain Initiative Group hopes to start their project to landscape Tain’s historical Rose Garden soon, and removing the trees before they start seems a sensible time to do it. We recognise that Tain residents value the many trees in the burgh but hope they can appreciate that removing the trees at this time makes sense.  If people don’t want to see the trees go now, we need to recognise that they may need to come down in the next few years and this could spoil the magnificent landscaping and work of volunteers once the revamped Rose Garden plants have become established.”
 
If residents have any comments they should contact Councillors Alasdair Rhind, Allan Torrance or Richard Durham before Monday morning 23 February 2009.