Most of the felling taking place at present is centred on the summit of Loxley Common. This area is the location of the ‘Easy Going’ routes designated by the Council, but these can no longer be described as ‘Easy Going’ by any stretch of the imagination. With fewer trees to soak up the rainwater and large machinery being driven along the paths there is serious erosion as can be seen in the photograph. It would be a nightmare for anybody to push or be pushed along these paths in a wheelchair or even a pushchair.
Meanwhile the water is flowing straight off the Common down into Loxley and Middlewood. Loxley residents will testify to the increase in water flowing across Loxley Road in rainy weather and Middlewood residents must be concerned about the increased flood risk.
On a wider scale one of the most worrying long-term concerns about the felling is the use being made of the wood from the felled trees. A local farmer was paid to shred the wood, which was then sold to a company who turned it into fuel pellets. These were then bought back and used to fuel Council heating schemes. If trees were being planted at the rate they are being felled this would be renewable energy. However no trees are being replanted in this case.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen meaning that they actually counteract global warming whilst they are living. Chop them down and this positive effect is lost. Burn them and you release carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, making them contributors to the greenhouse effect.
So our councillors, who frequently boast about our ‘green’ city, are actually condoning this irresponsible behaviour. One has to wonder whether the profit being made from the sale of the wood is the attraction, especially when volunteers are doing most of the felling.
.