Root barrier installation to spare trees at Alexandra Gardens starts Monday

The root barrier compromise which has saved two 115-year old trees will be installed in a four-week operation at Alexandra Gardens starting on Monday.

There will be a four-week road closure on Carlyle Road to allow the root barrier installation to be carried out, says Cambridge City Council. The barrier will help protect local properties from the risk of root growth damage arising from the nearby council-owned London Plane trees.

A root barrier is an underground structure placed to block tree roots and is often used to protect structures and help to preserve soil moisture.

The council has been working with loss adjustors, Crawford & Co, and insurance company, Aegas, acting on behalf of a local household, who originally surveyed the area and notified the council that action was required to manage the risk of root damage to nearby property.

The original remedial solution put forward was to carry out pruning to a number of the London Plane trees in the area. However, with the support of local residents and the appointed loss adjustors and insurance company, this plan was reviewed and a viable alternative, involving the installation of a root barrier, was found.

The plan was reviewed at least partly because of a blockade around the trees by Cambridge-based climate activists who were on site and prevented a council team severely pruning the healthy trees on the morning of July 27, 2021.

Cllr Alex Collis, executive councillor for open spaces, food justice and community development, said: “We are happy to have reached a positive resolution – our council teams have worked hard alongside the loss adjustors, insurers and the community, especially local residents, to deliver a solution that would benefit everyone and the environment.

“The original decision to carry out pruning to the trees was not a decision that was made lightly – it took careful consideration and a deep analysis of what the implications of offering up different solutions would have.

“I am glad we have been able to find an alternative option.”

Jason Scott-Warren, who was one of the activists at last year’s blockade, said: “It’s great that these outstandingly beautiful trees have been saved, and that local authorities now have an alternative to pollarding or removing trees that are accused of causing subsidence.

“That said, the proposed action will be both costly and disruptive. The law needs to be changed to stop insurers passing the buck to local councils in this way.”

Peter Sparks, a member of the Alexandra Gardens Tree Group, said: “I am delighted that it has been possible to save these trees from the severe pruning that was originally demanded by the insurers. The Council is to be congratulated on negotiating an alternative solution and so ensuring that the complete magnificent row of plane trees that bounds Alexandra Gardens can remain intact to be enjoyed by Cambridge residents for generations to come – and Extinction Rebellion Cambridge should be given credit too.”