Jamie's Tree is no different

It's not all that often that we can congratulate local councils.

Lowestoft Town Council has – it seems – listened to people and made some sensible decisions.

They had proposed bringing down the Triangle sails. Contentious, but not outrageous. This has been done. 

But they also proposed removing three of the four trees gracing the Triangle. There weren't many in the area who understood this idea. And they complained and objected.

Through articles on community websites. Through community groups like Most Easterly Community Group. Through people like Ben Quail, who made a picture and hung it on one of the trees. They asked 'Why cut down trees?'

Why three out of four? One was a Memory Tree for Jamie Reay. Perhaps LTC knew that would be a step too far.

But it blew a hole through their justification of the removal of the other three –that the roots were and would create a potential 'trip hazard'.

So the problem they faced was the paradoxical ability to remove three trees because of their safety ramifications, but keep one because it was a different type of tree which didn't cause problems.

Light and listening has dawned.

Lowestoft Town Council have decided that the trees should stay. And they've done this by laying turf round the trees. Simples. 

Let's hope this is a permanent decision.

Well done, our Lowestoft Town Council.