Stirling Council starts improvements in the city's Victoria Place on Monday 20 October with a new footway, or pavement, being provided on the Kings Park side of the road, which will incorporate widening out into the carriageway at pedestrian crossing points.

Victoria Place is well used for parking especially for visitors to the park, and at the moment there are no footways on the Park side and cars that park on the verge are causing damage to the verge and the tree roots. For people parking, the lack of footways is unsafe and inconvenient.

The council said it is not possible to make this improvement without felling some trees. At an early stage all trees were surveyed and those that needed felling because of disease or damage were identified. In the last 30-40 years some replacement trees have proved to be unsuitable or have had a relatively short life span, subsequently, the design took this into account to minimise any further unnecessary felling.

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In total, 20 trees are to be removed, and replaced by 23 semi-mature lime trees will be planted, each between 4 and 5 metres high. These trees will be planted to ensure parked cars cannot damage them. The new lime trees have a life expectancy of about 100 years. The tree type chosen were agreed with the Council's tree specialist and Council planners to match the overall conservation setting of the Kings Park area. The existing trees are not protected by individual tree preservation orders.

Full details of the design were the subject of consultation with the Community Council, the Friends of Kings Park Group and with neighbouring residents who were notified by letter.

(GK/JM)