Susan Dumbleton

Member since 27 January 2021

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Susan Dumbleton5 years ago Stirling Council Tree and Woodland Policy ConsultationResponse from Riverside Community CouncilRiverside Community Council (RCC) is an environmentally aware Community Council which works closely with a local environmental organisation (Riverside Naturally) and a Stirling-wide environmental organisation (Treelink Stirling). RCC welcomes the publication of this policy. RCC considers that Stirling Council’s recognition of trees as an environmental asset and not merely a problem for officers to manage is positive. It is helpful to the CC that the policy makes explicit statements about the benefits of trees and why they are considered to be assets. For example Point 6 (p4 of the document) is a useful reference for the CC if it is contacted by a resident concerned about a tree. RCC values the trees within its open spaces and welcomes plans for other locations to enjoy similar benefits. RCC has some outstanding comments and questions about the policy and would welcome clarification on the following points: There appears to be no explicit link between this policy and Stirling Council’s Alive with Nature plan. RCC feels that, for maximum positive effect, this policy should have been embedded within the Alive with Nature plan. Is this an action which can be taken retrospectively? RCC feels strongly that all policies of this nature should be explicitly linked to Stirling Council’s declared Climate and Nature Emergency. What is Stirling Council’s definition of a woodland? How are they to be ‘managed’? Where are the woodlands owned or managed by Stirling Council? For example, is there one within RCC’s area? The CC would have found an appendix with this information helpful. Where are woodlands to be ‘increased’? Again an appendix with this would have been useful for the CC for its own environmental planning. RCC has a strong commitment to Active Travel and Sustainable Transport. There is no mention within this policy of trees supporting slower and healthier streets and no indication of where the Council plans to plant or replace street trees. An indication of this would be helpful to the CC so that when new street trees are planted it is aware of the and can relate them to its work on Active Travel.