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EPPING: Meeting planned to discuss tree work

2:37pm Tuesday 15th July 2008

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A PUBLIC meeting will be held to discuss concerns over plans to fell oak trees as part of ongoing maintenance work on trackside embankments between Epping and Theydon Bois Stations.

The meeting will be in the conference room at Epping Hall, in St John's Road, Epping, between 7pm and 9pm on Friday, August 1.

Stephen Jones, from railway maintenance firm Metronet, and Epping Forest District Council tree expert Chris Neilan will be answering questions.

Householders are concerned the loss of the trees will have a negative impact on people's privacy, and leave them exposed to more noise from passing trains.

Epping mayor Ben Murphy said: "Clearly this is an issue of concern to many residents. We appreciate this work has to be carried out for health and safety purposes but are committed to working with Metronet to ensure we save as many trees as possible.

"I hope residents will come to the public meeting and make their feelings known to Metronet."

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Morris Hickey, Redbridge says...
10:53pm Tue 15 Jul 08

This proposed "chat show" will not prevent them from hacking down trees. It is absolutely essential that EFDC act now to make the trees subject of preservation orders. As somebody has indicated on an associated item, Metronet have savagely felled trees, and broken their promises, elsewhere on the Central Line.

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Cllr. Ben Murphy, Epping says...
8:59am Wed 16 Jul 08

Morris,

Tree Preservation Orders do not apply to land owned by Transport for London. Metronet do not require permission to carry out this work, but are required to 'consult' on what they plan to do.

The public meeting with act as an opportunity for residents to question to the proposals and see if we can either do some work around the trees or, at the vest least, save as many as we possibly can.

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Cllr. Ben Murphy, Epping says...
9:00am Wed 16 Jul 08

Tree Preservation Orders do not apply to land owned by Transport for London. Metronet do not require permission to carry out this work, but are required to 'consult' on what they plan to do.

The public meeting will act as an opportunity for residents to question the proposals and see if we can either do some of the work around these beautiful trees or, at the very least, save as many as we possibly can.

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Morris Hickey, Redbridge says...
9:12am Wed 16 Jul 08

Having dealt with these people and their predecessors on a regular basis for almost 30 years I know that their "consultation" is a sham. They are deaf to reason, and oblivious to any view except their own: call it single-minded if you must.

It is ESSENTIAL that Epping Forest District Council officers act NOW to identify each and every tree of value, and reach a written agreement identifying the trees that will not be felled.

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Cllr. Ben Murphy, Epping says...
11:08am Wed 16 Jul 08

This is precisely the sort of work which we are trying to carry out through this Public Meeting.

I don't know whether you have ever met or communicated with Chris Neilan, but he is an national expert in his field and is very well placed to recommend the right assurances we shall be requesting from Metronet.

Until Metronet openly explain what they are planning to do and how to residents, we can't make any recommendations or proposals to the company, but of course, we are looking to retain as many of these oaks as possible.

I don't think I can really comment any further at this stage, other than to say I share the concerns of residents and will do all I can to help them fight their cause.

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Morris Hickey, Redbridge says...
12:20pm Wed 16 Jul 08

It needs to be understood that Metronet, and London Underground, have a long record of vandalism in this respect. They benefit from TfL being a statutory authority that achieves its desires through the permitted development loophole in the planning laws. My understanding is, however, that their rights can be withdrawn by the serving of an Article 4 direction. Has this been considered?

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Dan Brett, Loughton says...
3:17pm Wed 16 Jul 08

If the trees were a danger to the track then I would understand Metronet's position. But they are just being cut down for easy access for equipment. There must be other ways of carrying out the maintenance work. Have the trees posed any problems for maintenance in the past?

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Tim, Loughton says...
4:00pm Wed 16 Jul 08

Dan Brett wrote:
If the trees were a danger to the track then I would understand Metronet's position. But they are just being cut down for easy access for equipment. There must be other ways of carrying out the maintenance work. Have the trees posed any problems for maintenance in the past?
Simple answer nope! They have never been a problem when carrying out maintenance on that section of track.

Having worked on the Central Line for a long time, it would seem Metronet are just being d**ks!

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Caroline, says...
4:05pm Wed 16 Jul 08

I really had Metronet, PPP was the worse thing that ever happened to LT.

You just know that this meeting is going to just pay 'lip service' and that Metronet will get their own way!

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Cllr. Ben Murphy, Epping says...
4:25pm Wed 16 Jul 08

From what I can understand, it is the bank to one side of the track that is unsafe. Upon the bank lies the power cables for the trains and if the bank were to slide, the powers cables could end up on the track, so this is a health and safety issue. However, some of the possibilities which could be explored is whether the table could not be run around some of the trees or indeed, whether it is the trees that are keeping the banks from sliding.

Please do come along to the meeting though and put your points direct to Metronet. We will, of course, provide as much support to residents with concerns as possible, but we do have limited authority on this matter.

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Dan Flynn, says...
4:38pm Wed 16 Jul 08

I happen to know some Metronet top brass, so shall do a bit of digging regarding this. As to me it sounds a little odd that they've been there for decades without any trouble.

What I do know is that Oak trees roots can be a problem, being this close to track, they could be doing major damage to the track bed.

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