New street trees will be planted across the town to improve the vibrancy and attractiveness of the town centre and boost the town’s biodiversity.
Councillors unanimously voted to plant 20 street trees across the town costing £6,000, following an idea that was put forward by the town council’s head of operations, Hugh Davies. The decision was taken at a meeting of the town council’s asset management and amenities meeting on Monday 10th June.
The trees will be a variety of ornamental flowering and fruit trees, added to the existing array of hanging baskets, troughs and trees, to extend and retain the floral display year-round. The planting of additional perennials will not only improve the vibrancy and attractiveness of the town centre but will also contribute to the council’s biodiversity goals.
They will start life off by being grown in wooden containers and, when mature enough, will be planted out in the town’s parks and open spaces.
“The town centre always has a superb display of hanging baskets giving vibrant colour but when the end of the season comes, the colour disappears,” explained Hugh Davies. “Having trees throughout the town would brighten up the ambience with colour, and break up the brick, stone and concrete. There are some tree tubs on Church Street, but the trees are at their maximum potential in this setting and the plastic tubs will have to be destroyed to get the trees out when we replant them.”
Councillors were all in favour of the idea, with the town’s mayor, cllr Tom Price, saying it was a “brilliant idea to brighten up the town.”
Hugh Davies suggested the trees could be planted in the following locations; in the town centre by the bridge, along Lowbourne, by the bridal shop, in the Market Place area and by the town hall.
It was suggested that the Men’s Shed, who specialise in various DIY projects, could make the wooden planters for the trees, and they could be made reusable and designed so that they can be dismantled and re-used once the trees have outgrown them. Hugh Davies also said there are sponsorship opportunities for local businesses to sponsor the planters.
Chair of the meeting, cllr Adrienne Westbrook, asked whether the trees and planters would cause obstruction to residents in wheelchairs or those using single or double pushchairs.
However, Hugh Davies said that the planters would not cause an obstruction and could also be moved out of the way on market day or for events in the Market Place, such as the Christmas lights switch-on.
With concern about anti-social behaviour, cllr Tom Price asked whether the containers would be at risk of vandalism, however, Hugh Davies reassured councillors the containers would be ‘well secured’ and the newly-installed CCTV around the town would act as a deterrent to the vandalism.
The town council’s amenities team will begin planting these new trees in the autumn/winter season. Funds will come from the play areas and open spaces budget, of which there is up to £10,000 available.
