Forum Topic

Tree destruction - North London

Save our trees!! The beautiful 150 year old horse chestnut trees on Warwick and Maidstone Junction are being cut down tomorrow to make space for an artificial 'parklet' and 'rain garden'...using plastic grass etc.

Maggie Dodge ● 1021d55 Comments

Many many horse chestnut trees are unfortunately diseased.  One ofbtheir problems is that they can drop branches.  Fungus, moths, rust all seem to be a problem to them.  It is thought they may not be able to cope with climate change which is incredibly sad.Rain gardens are needed to help mitigate the flash flooding that can happen following sudden very heavy rainfall especially when the ground is already wet.Don't they have a lot of school streets in Enfield to make it safer for children to walk, cycle and scoot to school?  More of those would be a good idea as the streets can be very crowded during those times.

Philippa Bond ● 1021d

No mention of diseased trees and this was not about a rain garden Philippa it was a parklet!  Have you seen pictures of parklets ? They cost thousands and quickly become oversized rubbish bins because the Council don’t maintain them In other news :During the full Brent Council meeting (July 10), the Conservative Group had tabled a debate to discuss the impact the ULEZ expansion would have on drivers in Brent, titled ‘Don’t Punish Brent’s Drivers’.However, the council’s Labour leadership had amended the motion to such an extent that, rather than debating the potential negatives of ULEZ, it was changed to reflect the positives of the scheme.

Maggie Dodge ● 1021d

Attagirl, keep the good news coming!

John Hall ● 1021d

Another UlEZ complaint cunningly gift wrapped.Are you thinking of 'doing a Swampy', Maggie?

Mark Frost ● 1021d

Maggie's no dendrophile. This is all about reduction of parking space availability. It's her usual obsession with the "war on motorists".

Robert Fish ● 1021d

The constant war on motorists means they just have to drive further away and should be considered seriously instead of Ha we've nicked your parking spaces, bonkers.

Janice Evans ● 1021d

What was the rain garden doing in your original post Maggie?I love trees and horse chestnut or conker and stick-bud trees are one of my favourites.  There are avenues of them in parks or you'll often find one single one sitting in the middle of a field its shape unfettered but now so often diseased with rusty leaves all falling before the conkers.  My grandmother called the flowers 'candles'-  we've seen white and pink and red flowered ones and the children found another one at Kew with smooth conker cases which we eventually identified as a Japanese horse chestnut.

Philippa Bond ● 1021d

I like to pass on information as and when I come an across it. The obsession with removing parking spaces is the obsession of the cycle lobby, I just comment on it. Funny how you lot can twist anything

Maggie Dodge ● 1021d

https://enjoywalthamforest.co.uk/blended-copenhagen-crossings/This makes it safer for pedestrians to cross.  Too many motorists seem to be unaware of the Highway Code which gives pedestrians right of way.Of course you shouldn't be parking on them.

Philippa Bond ● 1020d

Well Chiswick is a nightmare for pedestrians. Especially those getting off buses having to cross the bi directional cycle lanes

Maggie Dodge ● 1019d

It is a change but you should be looking each way anyway when you cross any road and from the posts I have seen there seem to be a lot of people who just don't.  The cyclists of course should stop but just as with cars you can't be sure until they start to slow down whether they look as though they are actually reading the road properly and will.

Philippa Bond ● 1019d

https://www.enfield.gov.uk/news-and-events/2022/10/a-500k-boost-for-nature-in-enfield/rain-gardens-revamp-oakthorpe-school

Philippa Bond ● 1019d

"Look right, look left, look right again..."Take three steps and you're there, nightmare over.

Mark Frost ● 1019d

How dare you down play the risks to people. Alighting a bus possible with children , a buggy, or shopping trolley or limited mobility, and having to negotiate cyclists coming possibly at speed from two different directions before reaching safety . It’s preposterous and cannot possibly pass H & S. I’d like to see the Risk Assessment report.  I’m sure this data is on a file with all the other date the cycle lobby collects . Please provide

Maggie Dodge ● 1019d

"Alighting a bus possibl[y] with children, a buggy, or shopping trolley or limited mobility, and having to negotiate cyclists coming possibly at speed from two different directions before reaching safety."If you're worried about that, presumably you don't expect bus passengers to cross CHR on a zebra crossing to get to shops on the other side of the road.  So if you arrive on a westbound bus at Duke Road, you wouldn't use a zebra crossing to get to M&S because it's too dangerous?

Richard Jennings ● 1019d

Several pedestrians injuries reported on the roadway since C9 opened, some serious, but none on cycle lane. It’s indeed odd that such concern is only expressed for dangers to pedestrians where there is least risk to them.

Tom Pike ● 1019d

I always wonder why mass tree fellings (ergo 4.6 hectares dropped for the new A3/M25 junction around Wisley) elicits almost no response, whilst one dangerous tree in urban settings results in much weeping and gnashing of teeth. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-65327256

Paul Lund ● 1019d

How dare you play up the risks to people. The island stops give far more opportunities to cross and with shorter distances, for the disabled.

Mark Frost ● 1019d

Then there is Scotland.https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/scotland-caledonian-forest-heritage-explained-4262417

Marlene Plimley ● 1019d

https://www.facebook.com/groups/852952085507940/permalink/1548378392631969/

Maggie Dodge ● 1019d

We will be handing our petition into @RishiSunak @Mark_J_Harper @GregHands @10DowningStreet today at 2.00pm. We want urgent action to stop the roll out of any more floating bus stops and shared use bus boarders in active travel schemes in London & across the UK. #IDPD2023 #COP28

Maggie Dodge ● 1016d

Harrogate cycling: Council transport boss criticises ‘hardline cycle lobby’ in Yorkshire as active-travel schemes scrappedThe councillor in charge of transport at North Yorkshire County Council has criticised a “hard-line cycle lobby” in Harrogate as he reflected on the decision to scrap two high-profile active-travel schemes.

Maggie Dodge ● 1015d

“Yet *another* consultation launched by Southwark on the closed junction in Dulwich. Thousands of council working hours and £tens of thousands spent on this small patch of land. Meanwhile, residents on Croxted are ignored by the council over concerns of this daily congestion.”

Maggie Dodge ● 1015d

Was he in or hiding behind the sofa?

Mark Frost ● 1015d

I heard he locked himself in the lavatory with three old ladies. All together now;Oh, dear, what can the matter beThree old ladies locked in the lavatoryThey were there from Monday to SaturdayNobody knew they were thereThe first one's name was Elizabeth PorterShe went in to be rid of some overdue waterAnd she stayed there far more than she ought toAnd nobody knew she was there.The second one's name was Elizabeth PomphreyShe went in and made herself comfyThen she said: "Girls, I can't get my bum free."And nobody knew she was thereThe last one's name was Elizabeth CarterShe was known as a world renowned farterShe went in and played a sonataAnd nobody knew she was there.

Adrian Irving ● 1015d

I'm not sure you are taking this seriously enough Adrian.

Mark Frost ● 1015d

Take things on board Mark. You’ll learn a lot if you’re open tothe truth.

Maggie Dodge ● 1014d

“Looks like the bus driver's may strike over the LTNs.”

Maggie Dodge ● 1014d

I wrote to TfL to ask them to make sure that the bus drivers played the message to passengers when leaving the bus to remind them of the changes and that they were alighting onto a bus island and not directly onto the pavement.

Philippa Bond ● 1014d

Will do Maggie.

Mark Frost ● 1014d

Will do Maggie.

Mark Frost ● 1014d

Me? Not take things seriously Mark? How double dare you.All together now 🎶🎶🎶Two government ministers went to resign parlez voustwo government ministers went to resign parlez vousJumped the ship just in time (dirty swine)Inky pinky parlez vous.There is a chap with golden hair parlez vousThere is chap with golden hair parlez vousHis big fat fibs are now laid bare he even annoyed the lady ChairInky punky parlez vous.

Adrian Irving ● 1014d

Inky PINKY parlez vous.Predictive text, don't you just love it.

Adrian Irving ● 1014d

“Well done Manchester City council for creating absolute bedlam in the city centre. AND NOT ONE BIKE IN SIGHT..”

Maggie Dodge ● 1013d

From Twitter - no picture asi can’t work out how to but you get the gist“This is an amazing image demonstrating how crazy bus stops with cycles travelling at speed through them is. Yes that is a blind man, wheelchair user, cargo bike, conventional cycle and bus at busy stop!

Maggie Dodge ● 1010d

https://twitter.com/Hackneycyclist/status/1637762599998693376It does NOT have to be a problem.Everybody should be wary of changes AND for those with lack of sight it will be more difficult BUT that does not mean that it is impossible.  Making sure that you make best efforts to find out about any changes and how they will affect you is very important.  It takes two to tango.

Philippa Bond ● 1008d

Stop hiding your head in the sand Philippa, incredible ableist and selfish !

Maggie Dodge ● 1008d

Blind charity lists on Twitter:“The floating bus stops at Park Lane  need to be removed. They are not fit for purpose. Access to the bus has to be direct from the pavement. The cycle lane was also flooded resulting in many cyclists ebike & escooter riders using the pavement which was not safe for pedestrians.”

Maggie Dodge ● 1007d

"The cycle lane was also flooded"Even the corner of kew bridge outside sainsburys as ref was a constant pool of water with no drainage.Reminds me of the back common coming out of TGT. They re done the pavement and curbing but did nothing about drainage so the past 20+ years of flodding has become about 23 yrs.If your going to do road and pavement improvements dont create dips without any drainage

Julian Pavey ● 1007d

Taken from a local group“I wanted to see the film at the TU Club, 33 Acton High Street, this afternoon. Apparently this was a completely unreasonable aspiration. The only disabled parking place was occupied by another blue badge holder, fair enough.The other parking places were either loading only or *obstructed by  benches or planters*. I do not understand the glee with which disabled people are prevented from joining in community activities. I drove round Churchfield Road and back, polluting as I went, still no parking place available.

Maggie Dodge ● 1006d

Maggie  Ableist & Selfish!  Hardly, I've spent a lot of the last 20+ years dealing with changes and helping and trying to make life easier in particular for someone losing their sight.  Have you ever seen what happens when someone who has never been on an escalator gets on one and tries to hang onto the moving handrail?  It just isn't the solution to the problem.

Philippa Bond ● 1005d

On another site there are complaints about the visual aid dimples being a trip hazard for the visually impaired.  So you just can't win.

Philippa Bond ● 1005d

From Twitter “I cycle all year. Winter cycling can be brutal and dangerous. I agree it should be for as many as possible. I suspect many would not be prepared to cycle in mid winter though. Cycling is already accessible, always was.”

Maggie Dodge ● 1005d

Paint yourself anyway you want Philippa the real you shines through

Maggie Dodge ● 1005d

Yes I hope so - I don't believe in stopping all changes and living in an uncomfortable and unsustainable museum.We have the leakiest buildings in Europe and are now suffering the consequential problems of high costs for the use of fuel and ill-health from the state of many buildings; Govt has been taken to the High Court over air pollution several times and lost - and passed the buck to the Mayor of London to deal with.  We are all part of a bigger world.

Philippa Bond ● 1005d

Anyone who supports the Mayor has definitely lost the plot

Maggie Dodge ● 1004d

Happy Christmas Maggie.

Mark Frost ● 1004d

Hugs and kisses Mark. I’ve got your present under the tree ❤️

Maggie Dodge ● 1004d

So as to avoid being unpopular with people like you Boris Johnson announced the original ULEZ and then buzzed off leaving the incoming Mayor to carry it out after the Govt had lost several court cases re their lack of action on the state of air pollution which had been ruled too high.

Philippa Bond ● 1004d

People like me Phillipa? Fake stats about air pollution are not the way anyone should implement anything. Some of these ULEZ measures are in the countryside . I’m not political I just know right from wrong and I don’t fall for fake stats. I don’t appreciate climate change conferences , that achieve nothing, being attended by  people  flying thousands of miles to attend. What’s your thoughts on that

Maggie Dodge ● 1004d

More negative comments,“I moved a few years ago but still have friends in Wandsworth.  I drove here on Sunday. The decline in Wandsworth is really evident when you haven’t been here for a while. Traffic jams that were non existent a couple of years ago - cycle paths and poles everywhere- and of course no cyclists using them - scruffy streets - way way too much signage and it made me really sad to see how much it’s changed for the worse.  What has happened to this once lovely borough?”

Maggie Dodge ● 1004d

That's just someone wearing rose-tinted glasses - nothing to do with cycles.https://www.spearlondon.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg4CU--WbgwMVeoRoCR2pggCYEAAYAiAAEgKlnfD_BwE"In March 2023, 53% of rough sleepers in our boroughs were sleeping rough for the first time."

Philippa Bond ● 1004d

Important that those who are making the most money out of producing oil and gas by exporting it are also kept on track on reducing and phasing it out and increasing the amount of renewables and other exciting and innovative green experiments that they are working on.We should be more active in reducing our need for it.Big oil companies have known its responsibility for exacerbating global warming for a long time but chose to keep quiet about it.https://www.npr.org/2023/09/14/1199570023/exxon-climate-change-fossil-fuels-global-warming-oil-gas#:~:text=An%20Exxon%20spokesperson%20said%20in,lower%20emission%20initiatives%22%20through%202027.

Philippa Bond ● 1004d

Why allow those who just want the problem to go away and to carry on business as usual cause so much more destruction than  is necessary?We have just outsourced our industry to other countries eg China.  So there is nothing for us to be proud of.There is plenty of work available if we have people with the right skills. Sadly we don't seem to have.  There is quite a lot of work going on in finding how best to reduce the amount of fuel we need to keep warm in the cold and cool in the heat.The Futurebuild exhibition comes to the Excel in March and there are a lot of little films on youtube of all the past years' of work.

Philippa Bond ● 1004d

https://www.leti.uk/A network of over 1,000 built environment professionals working to put the UK on the path to net zero.

Philippa Bond ● 1003d