Boris stumped over London’s street trees getting the chop

02 November 2009

By Mike Brooke

BORIS Johnson has been given a bashing over hundreds of trees disappearing from the streets of London.

The Mayor has been accused of letting Transport for London lose 328 without being replaced in just 12 months.

His City Hall highways chiefs chopped down more than they planted during his first year of office, 2008-09.

The attack came from London Assembly Green Party member Darren Johnson who said: "More trees are being removed than being planted on roads under Transport for London control.

"This is pretty outrageous. It's in stark contrast to the hype we've seen from Boris about planting more."

The Mayor has estimated himself that London needs around two million trees by 2025 to 'mitigate urban heat effect' on the air we breathe.

He blamed gas, electricity and water mains as the main reason why so many trees get the chop.

Boris said in his reply: "It is not always possible or desirable to replace felled trees due to inadequate ground conditions such as the presence of utilities or in circumstances where the tree has grown from seed in an unsafe location."

Latest figures show 853 trees were removed in Boris's first 12 months, including four for 'safety' and six 'third party' claims, the rest from 'natural causes,' while there were 525 saplings planted, including 215 replacements.