Leylandii face the chop but who is responsible?
Leylandii trees around the old Sleaford tennis courts.
CONFUSION has arisen over who is ultimately responsible for chopping down a line of conifers to the north of the former tennis courts on Boston Road recreation ground in Sleaford.
Sleaford Tennis Club has entered into a long term lease agreement with Sleaford Town Council allowing the club to relocate the courts further back on the playing fields, with a small clubhouse, boundary fencing and floodlights.
The tennis club, with assistance from the Lawn Tennis Association, has funded the removal of the old courts but removal of the final line of tall leylandii trees to the north of the old courts was left because of delays before the nesting season last year. The trees were planted to screen the old courts but their shallow roots undermined the surface which became covered in moss.
At the last council meeting, Coun Mark Graves recalled part of the agreement with the town council was that the club removes the trees and reverts the land back to grass. Tree planting to screen the new courts has also been imposed by North Kesteven District Council planners. Mr Graves said: “I did not think we were in any doubts about the tree removal. It was not in the planning conditions but it was in our agreement.”
Town clerk Shelagh McIntyre was asked to study the lease agreement and contact the club before reporting back.
Tennis Club chairman Alison Gibson told the Standard the tree felling was a goodwill gesture, not part of a written agreement, but just as the work began last February the police were called to intervene by a local councillor who she believed should have been aware the necessary bird surveys had been done. Work was temporarily halted meaning it was too late to carry on before the nesting season. By the time the matter was resolved the workmen had left. She said getting the heavy machinery back would cost the club an additional £1,000 and felt as far as the club was concerned they had fulfilled all the terms within reason.
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Weather for Sleaford
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Temperature: 3 C to 12 C
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