Over the course of the past few years, I've had an increasing number of e-mails and posts in the Worle Discussion Group from local people who are concerned about overgrowing trees and bushes across Worle.

Many of these e-mails express disappointment at how messy areas of Worle are starting to look as a result and it's regularly pointed out to me that the increase in litter we are experiencing seems to have coincided with the lack of action from the Council in terms of ongoing local maintenance. When it's well looked after, Worle is one of the nicest places to take a walk or cycle in North Somerset, so it's no surprise local people are feeling let down.

In addition to this issue about Worle's general appearance declining, I've received many e-mails from people who have quite serious problems with trees and bushes that the Council will not act on. These range from trees and bushes causing damage to property, expensive ongoing maintenance costs and blockage of natural light through to concerns about safety in terms of trees or brambles extending into roads, footpaths and cycle paths or larger trees with huge and heavy branches worryingly close to homes. Replies from the Council on these matters are often frustrating. From people on low incomes or pensions being advised to hire a gardener they can't afford through to elderly and disabled residents told they are allowed to cut the trees down, which they physically can't manage. I don't think the Council Officers mean to offend when they respond to a resident's complaints in this way, they are simply following existing policy and working within their budgets, but the anger and upset this causes is an obvious result.

I think it's time to look at Council policy and investment in terms of how we deal with existing trees and bushes impacting local people. The Council should always work towards being a good neighbour and caring for our local area. If any of us planted a tree or bush in our garden and it was causing damage to our neighbour's property or costing them a significant amount of money each change of season we'd feel terrible and take steps to stop this happening. As such, it seems only right that the Council commit to taking the same kind of action when problems occur. I think this is especially important as we begin planting more trees across North Somerset as part of the rewilding program. 

On that note, I would say that this IS NOT a petition against rewilding; something I and local people in the vast majority support and have great enthusiasm for. Although I think there's still a way to go with rewilding - local people have expressed an interest in taking things further by looking at things such as bee bombs, native wildflower seedballs to better recreate the beautiful habitats we have lost - I would like to make clear this is an entirely separate discussion. 

I hope North Somerset Council accepts this petition in the spirit it was created. That is with a love of Worle and a desire to see it looking its very best.