Oak Tree To Be Felled

An oak tree growing in a north Powys cemetery is to be felled on safety grounds, the county council has confirmed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The oak tree in the middle of Maesgwastad Cemetery in Welshpool is to be felled after an in-depth survey found that the amount of live wood found in the trunk falls below current safety limits. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work to remove the tree will take place next from Monday 24 October. The cemetery will be closed to members of the public while the work is taking place but will be open if no works are taking place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr John Powell, Cabinet Member for Cemeteries, said: “We regularly carry out a survey of trees at our cemeteries so they are safe for those who visit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The latest survey has identified certain trees that pose a danger to the public and to property within our cemeteries. One significant tree was this oak tree at Maesgwastad Cemetery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The in-depth survey found that the trunk of the tree has 33% live wood, the safety limit is 37%. If the tree was to fall, not only could it result in injury or death, it would destroy a great number of headstone. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have considered several options to try and preserve the tree. However, the continued cost of its maintenance is not sustainable given the budgetary pressures we are facing. We have made the difficult decision to fell this tree. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This decision has not been taken lightly but we have a duty to ensure anyone that visits our cemeteries are kept safe.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​