Calls for ‘common sense’ as council plans to fell trees worth £97k

A Willenhall resident has called on the council to ‘apply common sense’ over its plan to fell trees near the new railway station.

Walsall Council has carried out a ‘formal risk assessment’ into two trees on Rosehill and has decided that they would both ‘obscure visibility’ once an incoming cycle junction has been installed. 

Local resident Harkie Chahal disagrees with the assessment, and believes they have only been identified as obscuring visibility due to foliage growing from the bottom of the trunk. 

Harkie said any obstruction that has been identified by the council would no longer exist if the tree was maintained and the trunk foliage removed. 

She said: “It’s ludicrous to chop down two perfectly healthy trees. They’re beautiful and it would be a shame for them to be gone because someone sitting in an office decided to fell them. 

“They have been chosen to be felled because of the leaf foliage. There are three others on this road which do not have the foliage and haven’t been chosen for felling. 

“The council has the reduced grass cutting, they talk about nature and wildlife, then they say they’re going to fell the trees. The lack of common sense makes my blood boil.”

As well as the two trees on Rosehill, an apple and a lime tree, the council also plans to fell a plane tree on New Road. The three trees have a combined life expectancy of 160 years, and a combined amenity value of more than £97,000. 

Residents have until July 18 to submit any objections to the felling of the three trees. 

A spokesperson for Walsall council said: “Residents are invited to give their views on the tree felling. This consultation will end on July 18, 2025, at which point, responses will be reviewed and considered.”