Cumbria County Council

Chief Executive’s Directorate – Information Governance Team – Lonsdale Building –The Courts – – CA3 8NA T: 01228 221234 – F: 01228 226706 – E: [email protected]

E-mail:

3 March 2016 Your reference: Our reference: EIR 2016-0004

Dear

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REGULATIONS 2004 - DISCLOSURE

The council has completed its search relating to your request for information about tree cutting on the Isel to Sunderland road, which we received on 11 February 2016.

The council does hold information within the definition of your request.

Request Yesterday contractors were in the process of cutting back all of the trees along the stretch of road from Isel to Sunderland, past Park Wood, up to the fence designating the wood itself. Today I noted that they had cut down all of the Hazel trees along that stretch. Given that Cumbria is one of the last strongholds of the Red Squirrel and there are signs clearly in place along this road I wonder at the reasoning behind the decision to take this action? Hazelnuts are exorbitantly expensive and beyond the budget of average households, yet they are one of the basic requirements in the diet of the Red Squirrel, so food for free would seem to make sense.

Response The main reason for the tree works to be carried out in the Isel and Blindcrake area was a letter from Blindcrake Parish Council stating that they had a number of complaints from parishioners regarding the encroachment of the bushy trees that had self-seeded along the verge and some of the more established trees that had branches that were getting close to the carriageway. On a couple of occasions there had been reports to the Parish Council of damage to vehicle mirrors as a result.

On inspection it was decided that it was time carry out the removal of the encroaching growth to aid both visibility on the highway and reduce the chance of damage to passing vehicles.

To this end, a qualified contractor was instructed to remove the self-seeded trees within the highway boundary. The works were timed to comply with the Natural guidelines to minimise disruption to nesting birds. As the Hazel trees, removed from the verges, are self-seeded from the existing stock within the wooded area there should be little or no impact on the squirrel’s habitat and could discourage them from foraging so close to the highway and passing vehicles.

These works, now complete, will not need repeated for many years to come

Most of the information that we provide in response to requests submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 will be subject to copyright protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by . However the

Serving the people of Cumbria cumbria.gov.uk Cumbria County Council copyright in other information may be owned by another person or organisation, as indicated on the information itself.

You are free to use any information supplied in this response for your own non-commercial research or private study purposes. The information may also be used for any other purpose allowed by a limitation or exception in copyright law, such as news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example by publishing the information in analogue or digital form, including on the internet, will require the permission of the copyright owner. Where the copyright owner is the council you will need to make an application under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005.

For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation you must apply to the owner to obtain their permission.

If you are dissatisfied with the way the council has responded to your request you can request an Internal Review. If you would like to request a Review please contact the Information Governance Team using the details at the top of this letter.

Further information can be found on the council’s website: http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/council- democracy/accesstoinformation/internalreviewscomplaints.asp

Yours sincerely,

Senior Manager – Performance and Risk

Serving the people of Cumbria cumbria.gov.uk