Over-zealous council chiefs are ripping out the ancient trees that line Britain's streets and parks because of misguided fears about health and safety.
A damning government report yesterday warned that trees were being chopped down in urban areas more quickly than they were being planted.
The "chainsaw massacre" is being fuelled by the UK's compensation culture and fears that falling branches could lead to expensive insurance claims.
Eric Pickles, the Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, warned that the leafy character of urban areas was under threat.
**That happened a few years back in the centre of Newport, a large number of trees went down and made our town centre a more boring place as a result.
"Whitehall's failure to tackle the compensation culture and the heavy-handed application of health and safety regulation is doing more harm than good," he said.
"Trees have a vital role to play in tackling climate change and improving quality of life, yet Britain's leafy suburbs face a chainsaw massacre under Labour."
Repeated studies have highlighted the importance of trees and green spaces in towns and cities. Not only do they help combat pollution from cars and lorries, a leafy environment can reduce stress and blood pressure levels of residents.
The new report - published by the Department of Communities and Local Government - is the biggest ever survey of urban trees in England. It covered streets, parks, schools, churchyards, allotments and private gardens in 147 towns and cities.
**Indeed, welcome to New Labours socialist paradise where even trees must be removed in order to made a better Cool Britannia...
Tags: cool britannia, new labour, trees,
2 people have spoken:
Trees being cut down by the same government that is on a recycling crusade?
Of course, hypocrisy is New Labour's middle name.
Yep thats the one. Everyone knows that trees help the environment except for councils who see them as a pain in the arse.
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