Thanks to Rose Kearsley for letting me pinch this photo of the Leas Promenade up by the far west end by the Radnor Cliffs. It just shows how hemmed in this end is with a massive wall of Holm Oaks growing tall upon the cliff summit. The only glimpses of the sea are far off into the distance towards the east.
Absurdly, this is the only area that is the tallest point of the Leas, where there is an active Tree Preservation Order (TPO) brought in back in 2009.
Can you believe back then this was said of the trees quote" APPRAISAL
The trees, the subject of the Order, are valuable in terms of the visual amenity of the area and their contribution to the setting of Radnor Cliff, which is characterised by a leafy, coastal Riviera environment. These trees are situated upon a steep escarpment and are highly visible and prominent from public vantage points, directly contributing to this character. The Tree Preservation Order was therefore served in order to protect the trees to safeguard this character and appearance." end quote.
That was 16 years ago, and no doubt these trees have doubled in height, weight, spread, and are of the same species of tree on the same soil and sand and loosely cemented sandstone as those on the Road of Remembrance that fell bolt upright rootball and all down a wash of loose sand due to heavy rainfall and soil erosion around the shallow rooted trees.
Trees do not anchor well on cliff tops and hillsides where sand and clay are present, as the roots do not spread through it as they need nourishment from the nutrients in the topsoil. Instead, root systems spread across the cliff top/hillside and up and down.
Each rainfall erodes the soil, exposing more of the roots. Their tall, wide evergreen canopies blow about in every strong wind, the power of which travels down the tree trunk, shaking and leveraging the rootball.
I doubt in 16 years since this order was brought in that the council has taken much interest in these trees, despite myself and others contacting them about the serious threat they are to those who live below them.
Even now, over 20 months since the landslide over the Road of Remembrance, has FHDC done much on the Leas Promenade to mitigate or minimise the threat of more landslides caused by shallow-rooted tall heavy trees other than the 5 I emailed them about before the landslides on the Zig Zag path? I even met with Councillor Speakman twice on the Leas when I discussed my fears over the trees on the Zig Zag path that concerned me.
I'm convinced if the landslides had not occurred on the Road of Remembrance that those trees would still be there today on the Zig Zag path.
What is the problem with this council? Why do they put trees before the safety of people's lives and property?
We are not asking them to take every tree down along the entire slope. Those trees that sit tall above the cliff tops that not only obliterate views of the sea but are seriously exposed to the storms that hit us all year round.
When the Victorians laid out this Leas Promenade, no trees were growing tall on the top of the summit, let alone growing tall above it as now along much of the promenade.
Wake up FHDC before another landslide occurs and property is damaged, or worse, lives are lost.
FHDC Report on the 2 landslides on the Leas above the Cow Path and by the Vinery suggests that 2 other areas along the Leas are at risk of landslides occurring. Why have they not warned us of these locations? What have they done to minimize the threat? We certainly have seen no areas fenced off and signs put up.
. Why
We have asked our Ward Councilors to find out what's going on.
A FHDC Report published in May said that works were meant to start in October, shoring up the cliff face by the Vinery so that the children's play area can be moved. Trees were meant to be pollarded where they were at risk of falling. This was all meant to be done by the end of this year. Yet nothing has happened. Why?
Do they not have the funds, as they earmarked £150k for these works, plus another £750k to build a new play area?
Have they got contractors willing and able to carry out the works, or are they not confident that using wire meshing and steel pins is capable of securing an almost vertical cliff face?
Why have they not made any public comment as to the reason why the works have not begun?
We have contacted our Folkestone Central Ward Labour Councillors and hope to arrange a walk with them along the Leas Promenade soon.
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