The municipality of Westerveld is allocating an extra 175,000 euros for the maintenance and supervision of trees in the municipality. Because the tree policy and management were not in order, the municipality had not carried out tree safety checks and planned maintenance for a long time. As a result, a backlog in maintenance has arisen and the municipality does not comply with the so-called duty of care. Extra money should change that.
There are about 53,000 trees along roads and avenues in the municipality and Westerveld now cuts every year to maintain those trees. There was already 175,000 euros available for this and the same amount will be added on an annual basis. In total, the municipality therefore has 3.5 tonnes available for tree maintenance.
That sounds generous, but in Westerveld an average of six tons per year would be needed for optimal tree management. By spending less money on inspections and replanting, among other things, the municipality can save. “Six tons would give us a score of 8.5 on tree management,” explains Alderman Henk Doeven. “With 3.5 tons we score a six.”
With that “six” the municipality knows how to limit the safety risks in any case, explains Doeven. “The idea behind it is to go for the minimum obligation where there are no safety risks.” The inspections that would otherwise be carried out within four years are now carried out over a period of five years. “It is not the case that the inspections are not carried out, but they are less regular,” explains Doeven. “In five years we will be completely up to date again.”
Another question that surfaced was what about replanting trees when other trees disappear. The municipality is obliged by the province to replant outside built-up areas. In any case, not replanting at all is not an option, despite the cutbacks. Would things have been different if the municipality had been financially more flexible? Doeven doesn’t dare to answer that question just like that. “But, I think we ended up with the same thing.”
The municipal factions agreed to evaluate the plans in two years.