Havant Leisure Centre Trees set to stay after council meeting

An Extraordinary Scrutiny Board meeting was held at the Public Service Plaza, at noon yesterday, to scrutinise a cabinet decision to fell two trees adjacent to Havant Leisure Centre.

The outcome of the meeting was a recommendation, voted unanimously, asking the Cabinet to reconsider its proposed decision, taken on 30 November 2011, to allow Horizon Leisure Trust to fell and replace the two trees adjacent to Havant Leisure Centre, and that this decision to be changed to refuse permission for the felling of the Ash and London Plane trees. The request to fell and replace the two trees came from Horizon Leisure Trust in order to improve its visibility and marketing of the centre and uncover the signage on the side of the building currently obscured by the trees.

One of the trees was donated by the anti-smoking charity ASH in the late 1980s to promote health. The land the Ash tree and the London Plane tree occupy is owned by Havant Borough Council but within the total area leased to the Horizon Leisure Trust. This controversial debate heard from a number of councillors and officers and also a tree warden and a representative of Horizon Leisure Trust, speaking at the meeting offering reasons both in support and against the felling of the trees.

Councillor Briggs, leader of Havant Borough Council said; "This was a difficult decision to make as the council is responsible as custodians of trees within the borough and these trees are no different to any others.

"However, we also have a responsibility to listen to and consider the request of Horizon Leisure Trust as a business of the borough pursuing improvements to its marketing and sustainability in the current economic climate."

Thanks to Havant Borough Council for this news release.