A PROMINENT tree in St Paul’s Churchyard, Wokingham will be felled during the October half term break.
The cedar of Lebanon, which grows between the church and Reading Road, has been examined by tree experts and found to be unsafe.
It was due to be felled in August but the work was postponed, allowing further checks to be carried out.
David Ruddock, church warden at St Paul’s said: “The tree is thought to be over 120 years old, and has been in a poor condition for the last few years.
“Bracing works were carried out in 2014 in an attempt to extend its life, but earlier this year it was noticed that a split in the stem appeared to be widening, so we asked a tree consultant to inspect it.
“He was in no doubt that the tree is unsafe and should be removed.”
Felling was scheduled for August, but Wokingham.Today understands that warning signs were not implemented early enough by the traffic management company employed by the church’s tree contractors.
This meant that Wokingham Borough Council’s street works team were unable to issue a road closure licence, and the work had to be postponed.
It is also understood that Wokingham Borough Council was concerned by the loss of the tree.
“As a church we have tried to keep it for as long as possible, and we will all be very sad to lose it,” said Mr Ruddock.
“But the truth is that it is coming to the end of its life and is no longer safe, so it has to go.
“We invited the council to send its own tree officers to come and see it too, and having done so, they agreed that it should be removed.”
The procedure will require use of a heavy crane, and Reading Road will be closed to traffic to allow the contractors to operate safely.
St Paul’s Church carries out all necessary checks on its trees.
The work will cost them around £13,000.
Mr Ruddock said: “We are very grateful to The Wokingham Society, which has offered us a generous grant of £5,000 towards the cost of removing the cedar, on the condition that a replacement tree is planted – which we are determined to do.”
Felling is scheduled to take place over the first two days of the half term week, on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, in order to try to minimise inconvenience to road users.
While pedestrians will be able to continue to use the pavement on the Holt Lane side of the road, there will be no access for vehicles on Reading Road between Holt Lane and Station Approach, on both days.
For more information, visit: www.spauls.co.uk, and www.wokinghamsociety.org.uk
