by political editor Paul Francis

More than 2,000 trees have been cut down by Kent County Council over four years - but only 562 new ones have been planted to replace them.

The council’s failure to replace trees has come under fire from opposition county councillors and conservation groups.

KCC has not set aside any money this year for replanting and says it wants county councillors themselves to pay from money they have to spend on their local areas.
The Woodland Trust said it was concerned by the figures.

Ellie Henderson, local government officer for the trust, said: "We are extremely concerned that Kent County Council is not at least replacing trees that have been felled.

"Whilst we recognise that trees sometimes have to be removed because of safety concerns or to restore other habitats, they are also vital to local people and to the environment.

“Trees can actually save councils money in the long term – for example they provide shade in the summer and reduce the need for air conditioning. Trees also provide numerous other benefits - they help to reduce noise pollution and they improve air quality.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Chittenden, who requested the figures, said many of Kent’s roads were being scarred by tree stumps.

“Trees reinforce local character, benefit health and provide an important wildlife habitat. They also cleanse urban air and enhance property values. Many roads look a bit of a mess where there are stumps just left.”

Cllr Bryan Sweetland (Con), cabinet member for highways, blamed a lack of money. “It is not just Kent and a lot of it comes down to money. Councillors have money available to spend in their own wards and it is down to them what they want to promote in their area.”

The decline in tree numbers was more pronounced in residential areas where trees planted in the 1960s were coming to the end of their life and were often removed for safety, he added.