Centre Promenade works - Street tree felling consultation

Share Centre Promenade works - Street tree felling consultation on Facebook Share Centre Promenade works - Street tree felling consultation on Twitter Share Centre Promenade works - Street tree felling consultation on Linkedin Email Centre Promenade works - Street tree felling consultation link

This consultation has now concluded.


Public consultation for these works ran from 20/11/2024 until 18/12/2024. Following consideration of all the comments the outcome is that the 5 trees are to be removed. You can view the full notice of tree removal and replacement here.


Background

Construction work to create a continuous surface and replace five trees is set to start in The Centre early in 2025.

The work will take place on a section of Centre Promenade in Bristol city centre, between the Neptune statue and the Cascade Steps.

It will include:

  • replacing five trees that have outgrown their planters with blossoming trees
  • repairing the damaged planters and paving
  • planting flowerbeds and plants for pollinators
  • filling in the three sunken fountains that no longer work
  • creating artwork on the new surface that extends over the promenade, including the fountains and wooden decking
  • building platforms over three sets of steps to make room for street traders

Graphic that shows the plans for Centre Promenade, The Centre:


Replacing five trees 

The Centre Promenade works include removing five London plane trees (Platanus X hispanica) and replacing them with five smaller blossoming trees (Cercis siliquastrum) that are more suited to growing in raised planters.

This needs to be done as the trees, planted in 2000, have outgrown their planters and do not have enough room for their roots, which are pushing out of the planters and damaging them. If left, the trees could become unstable, posing a risk to people in the area.

We have looked at other options, such as building larger planters or cutting back the root systems and the crown of the trees. However, both these options do not deal with the problem of the shallow planters in the long-term and could also lead to the trees failing and becoming unstable. We cannot replant the trees elsewhere as they are so large that, to remove them safely, they need to be felled in sections.


Commitment to trees 

As a council, we are committed to increasing the number of trees in Bristol with 100,000 trees planted since 2015 as part of the One Tree Per Child and Trees for Streets programmes.


Timings 

Depending on contractor availability, the work is set to be carried out early in 2025 to take advantage of the winter tree planting season. It is expected to take up to three months to complete.


Information about other Centre Promenade improvements

You can view information about the other improvements taking place across the Centre Promenade here. Please note that these other improvements are not the subject of this consultation.

Public consultation for these works ran from 20/11/2024 until 18/12/2024. Following consideration of all the comments the outcome is that the 5 trees are to be removed. You can view the full notice of tree removal and replacement here.


Background

Construction work to create a continuous surface and replace five trees is set to start in The Centre early in 2025.

The work will take place on a section of Centre Promenade in Bristol city centre, between the Neptune statue and the Cascade Steps.

It will include:

  • replacing five trees that have outgrown their planters with blossoming trees
  • repairing the damaged planters and paving
  • planting flowerbeds and plants for pollinators
  • filling in the three sunken fountains that no longer work
  • creating artwork on the new surface that extends over the promenade, including the fountains and wooden decking
  • building platforms over three sets of steps to make room for street traders

Graphic that shows the plans for Centre Promenade, The Centre:


Replacing five trees 

The Centre Promenade works include removing five London plane trees (Platanus X hispanica) and replacing them with five smaller blossoming trees (Cercis siliquastrum) that are more suited to growing in raised planters.

This needs to be done as the trees, planted in 2000, have outgrown their planters and do not have enough room for their roots, which are pushing out of the planters and damaging them. If left, the trees could become unstable, posing a risk to people in the area.

We have looked at other options, such as building larger planters or cutting back the root systems and the crown of the trees. However, both these options do not deal with the problem of the shallow planters in the long-term and could also lead to the trees failing and becoming unstable. We cannot replant the trees elsewhere as they are so large that, to remove them safely, they need to be felled in sections.


Commitment to trees 

As a council, we are committed to increasing the number of trees in Bristol with 100,000 trees planted since 2015 as part of the One Tree Per Child and Trees for Streets programmes.


Timings 

Depending on contractor availability, the work is set to be carried out early in 2025 to take advantage of the winter tree planting season. It is expected to take up to three months to complete.


Information about other Centre Promenade improvements

You can view information about the other improvements taking place across the Centre Promenade here. Please note that these other improvements are not the subject of this consultation.