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30
Mar 2021
Tree felling at Hornbeam Park 'traumatic' for residents
Residents have been shocked by the number of trees chopped down beside the tracks near Hornbeam Park railway station, according to a local councillor.
Network Rail recently carried out the works, which it said was essential for trains to run safely and reliably.
Trees up to 6.5 metres tall were removed and larger trees that could have fallen onto the tracks have been cut back or removed.
John Ennis, the Conservative councillor for Harrogate Stray, said local people had been "taken aback" by the scale of pruning and has complained to Network Rail.
He wrote on Community News website, a website run by Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones:
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In January, Network Rail submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council about the works, which included photos of which trees it planned to remove or prune within the Harrogate Conservation Area.
The company said an independent ecologist had provided a risk assessment of the area to look for protected species.
It said some mature trees had to be removed to protect the tracks.
Richard Owens, infrastructure director for Network Rail’s north and east route, told the Stray Ferret:
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