Adel and Wharfedale Ward Councillors

We have been informed of upcoming tree safety works on trees along Arthington Lane. The Ash Dieback Team plan to remove 6 trees between the junction of Black Hill Road and 300m past the entrance to the Nunnery. The map to shows the location of the trees below.

The works are due to take place on 17th July 1930-0030

Unfortunately, in this case, a full road closure is necessary to complete the work safely. Works have been planned in conjunction with Network Management to ensure traffic management is set up at a time which will cause minimal disruption. All properties within the closure will receive a letter of notification.

The Ash Dieback team apologise in advance for any disruption caused.

The trees have been identified for removal or pruning by external surveyors as part of Leeds City Council’s Ash Dieback Project.

Ash Dieback disease is a fatal condition affecting ash trees, caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. First identified in the UK in 2012, Ash Dieback has now spread across the country, leading to rapid tree decline, with some trees already posing significant risks to public safety and infrastructure. The disease progresses through four stages, Class 1 (0-25% canopy dead), Class 2 (25-50% canopy dead), Class 3 (50-75% canopy dead) and Class 4 (75-100% canopy dead). Trees within Classes 3 and 4 generally pose the highest risks, particularly when coupled with a secondary defect. Trees of this condition are extremely unlikely to recover from the disease.

Leeds City Council has a statutory duty to ensure that trees under its control do not pose unreasonable risks to people. We are focussing on mitigating unreasonable risks posed by ash trees with canopy conditions of Class 3 or Class 4, or those which are presenting any secondary defects, along with trees of other species presenting obvious defects identified during the survey. Where possible, risk will be mitigated using appropriate pruning techniques, although it is likely that a large number of these trees will have to be removed. It should be mentioned that the council has a duty to enforce the removal of any private trees posing an unreasonable risk to the highway under the Highways Act 1980 s154(2).

As part of the project the council has committed to replacing these trees at a rate of 5:1, with a more suitable species, in woodland creation banks across the city.

If you have any concerns about Ash trees on your land or nearby please do email AshDieback.enquiries@leeds.gov.uk