Restaurant boss bangs drum for tree felling

Former Beautiful South drummer Dave Stead, owner of the Boar's Nest in Princes Avenue, Hull, says droppings from the 10-metre high sycamore, which is in the rear yard, make the path slippery and dangerous.

He has applied to the city council to have a tree preservation order removed, which would allow it to be felled.

Outlining his case to the council, Mr Stead said: "The tree causes danger to staff. It overhangs the path and in the autumn the leaves and sap make the path very slippery.

"Our neighbours use the same path and have had problems in the past. The tree does not make a positive contribution to the conservation area; it is overlooked by a car park and one flat."

His view is not shared, however, by the Avenues and Pearson Park Residents' Association, which said the tree was an asset that should be protected. It said in a statement: "The ecological value of a healthy urban tree outweighs the perceived nuisance of seasonal habits."

A report to councillors recommends that the preservation order is confirmed and said the problems could be overcome without cutting the tree down.

The report added: "The applicant makes reference to danger caused by the tree in the autumn from leaves and sap making paths slippery.

"There are a great number of trees adjacent to footpaths both on Princes Avenue and on other streets in the city with a similar habit of shedding leaves in the autumn. These do not seem to create a significant danger to the public and it is considered that the proposed solution far exceeds the perceived problem.

"Felling the tree would cause harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area."