Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council
Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council
Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council
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<strong>Trees</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Realm</strong> (Draft)<br />
6. PRACTICAL SITE CONSIDERATIONS<br />
54. <strong>Westminster</strong>’s public realm is required to support an increasing range of activities <strong>and</strong><br />
functions, whilst also accommodating an increasing intensity of use. <strong>Trees</strong> have an<br />
integral place within <strong>the</strong> city’s public realm but are not necessarily appropriate in all<br />
circumstances.<br />
55. In a park or garden physical constraints may be limited to <strong>the</strong> presence of o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
vegetation, proximity of buildings or infrastructure such as lighting columns. The street<br />
is a very different environment however, where <strong>the</strong> safety of users (whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y are in<br />
vehicles, on bicycles or pedestrians) is of paramount importance. Constraints include<br />
consideration of people with disabilities, pavement width, pedestrian flows, highway<br />
traffic, street lighting levels, underground services, natural <strong>and</strong> CCTV surveillance, need<br />
for cleansing <strong>and</strong> maintenance, potential for property damage, <strong>and</strong> so on.<br />
56. This section sets out <strong>the</strong> practical site considerations which need to be factored into <strong>the</strong><br />
decision whe<strong>the</strong>r to plant or not. It includes matters that may affect <strong>the</strong> safety <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
convenience of <strong>the</strong> public <strong>and</strong> relationships to how <strong>the</strong> street is used.<br />
Available Space<br />
57. <strong>Trees</strong> should not be planted where <strong>the</strong>y will obscure traffic signs or sight lines, or where<br />
<strong>the</strong>y will cause obstruction to <strong>the</strong> free movement of vehicles. Therefore <strong>the</strong> planting of<br />
small-growing broad-headed trees on busy routes where lateral branches could come<br />
into contact with vehicles should be avoided. Care is also needed to ensure larger trees<br />
are planted sufficient distance from <strong>the</strong> kerb to ensure that <strong>the</strong>ir trunks (allowing for any<br />
incremental growth) <strong>and</strong> limbs do not become a liability to vehicles or pedestrians.<br />
Charing Cross Road, WC2: <strong>Trees</strong> can cause obstruction <strong>and</strong> damage to vehicles, particularly buses