12:20pm Saturday 13th February 2010
By Jon Livesey
ENVIRONMENTALISTS have been accused of ‘playing Russian roulette’ with people’s lives because they want to preserve 18 trees next to a railway line.
The beech trees have a fungal infection and last year one 100-foot tree fell close to the Burnley to Todmorden line.
Network Rail have called for the felling to go ahead but Friends of the Earth say the cull is ‘unecessary’ and said the over-hanging trees should be lopped off.
Todmorden Anglers’ Club have applied to Burnley Council for permission to cut down the trees at Royd Wood near Cliviger Fish Ponds.
Keith Lumley, a Network Rail spokesman, said inspectors carried out a site visit and found a number of trees had infected roots.
They asked the angling group to submit an application as they are on their land.
He said: “One such tree came down across the railway last year and the branches were hit by a train. We cannot allow that situation to continue.
“Burnley Council is aware of the situation and has given permission for the trees to be felled. Better that than to have a tree come down on the railway and cause a derailment.”
But Brian Jackson, of Friends of the Earth, has urged the rail firm to cut back the branches instead.
He said: “The trees themselves might not be a danger. It may just be some old, overhanging limbs. Sudden rain and thawing can make them likely to pull the tree over. Every tree has bits of rot.
“I would suggest they remove the over-hanging branches that would fall onto the railway line.”
Cliviger with Worsthorne Coun Michael Heys said: “If the trees are going to be a danger to public health then they will have to come down.
“If they are infected as badly as suggested then leaving them standing would be like playing Russian roulette with someone’s life.”
Mr Lumley added: “Network Rail is one of the largest landowners in the country and we take our responsibilities to the environment very seriously.
“However, in this part-icular case we have no choice. With the agreement and co-operation of Todmorden Anglers, our tree expert has examined all the trees concerned and identified 18 that unfortunately have a fungal infection that destroys the root system and makes them unstable.”
Coun David Heginbotham, who also represents the Cliviger with Worsthorne ward, said: “Safety comes first.”
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