Trees cut down in Potters Close after people suffer falls

Two trees at Potters Close, near Saddlers Walk, Worcester, are in the process of being removed by tree surgeons this week, leaving behind what one resident called 'a concrete jungle' as the move sparked mixed reactions.

READ MORE: Firefighters clear up huge oil and fuel spill on M5 

READ MORE: More details revealed after attempted murder arrest

Want to stay up to date with all the latest news for your local area? It's easy, just sign up for our email newsletters here and all the important stories that matter to you will be delivered straight to your inbox.

The site has recently been the focus of a campaign on behalf of residents by Warndon's Labour councillor Jill Desayrah over concerns about access and safety for disabled people, including the risk of potential falls.

FLASHBACK: Eddie Gilbert (left) and Cllr Jill Desayrah give the thumbs up after the uneven path in Potters Close was fixed by Citizen Housing (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

These concerns centred on the uneven footpath, since resurfaced by Citizen, and the lack of a 'dropped kerb' footway crossing for people with mobility scooters and wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs.

However, Saddlers Walk resident Vicky Dempsey loved the trees and is concerned their removal is a pattern being repeated across the area after trees were felled on Windermere Drive near the entrance to Sainsbury's.

The 38-year-old said: "They're very beautiful, old and very large trees and, when they're full in the summer, it adds greenery to the area.

"If you cut all the trees down it just feels like a concrete jungle. I would just like the trees left."

She added: "It saddens me to see such a loss to our wildlife and the environment. There's just a sea of brick and concrete now, any greenery seems to be destroyed."

Cllr Jill Desayrah previously described the bumpy Brickfields path as a trip hazard, calling it 'horrible' and demanding urgent action, worried someone would fall over on the rough and uneven ground because the surface was cracked and warped by underlying tree roots.

The Labour city councillor, responding to the work to remove the trees said: "Losing trees is never good news.

"But despite some recent and welcome improvements to the paving in Potters Close now the kerbs have become dangerous.

"One of my disabled residents has twice fallen badly there.

"If removing these trees helps reduce these ongoing hazards then sadly I think it must be done.

"I have been assured the kerbs will very soon be fixed and I will be keeping an eye on conditions in the future."

A spokesperson for Citizen said: “We are planning to remove two large trees in Potters Close because they are causing considerable damage to the footpaths and roadway and are potentially going to cause drainage issues.

"It was decided that, to prevent further substantial damage, the trees needed to be removed. We have written to local residents to inform them of our plans. We do not like removing trees but unfortunately, in this case, there was no alternative option.”