Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

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Page 44 Trees and the Public Realm (Draft) Air Quality 115. The green, clean city requires an integrated design and trees with appropriate qualities have a role to play in improving air quality in Westminster. The “right tree, right place” principle needs to be implemented when making selections 14 . 116. The fact is, however, that Westminster’s air quality is seriously compromised by pollution from traffic and other sources. A good mix of trees (and other plants) is best used to minimise this, although effective species selection could help alleviate local conditions. Other Planting 117. Other forms of greening can be used in locations that are not suitable for street tree planting. Vines on wires across small spaces, and creepers on blind flank walls provide alternatives to the straightforward option of planting a street tree. Property rights will be involved, but where an alternative may be desirable, suitable agreements with the owner of the wall will be brokered, allowing the council to plant in its highway and maintain the plant. 118. The use of first floor flower boxes in Covent Garden for instance, continues a local tradition originating from the eighteenth and nineteenth century (although not an original design intention) and provides a good example of alternative greening of the City. Recent studies 15 on the area advocate the continued use of flower boxes to enhance the character of the area. Piccadilly, W1 (Athenaeum Hotel) and King Street, WC2: Green walls and private planters can provide welcome greening in some locations where planting trees would be inappropriate. 14 Refer to Appendix D for discussion of some species which are suitable for efficient removal of different types of air pollution. 15 See Covent Garden Area Trust, 2004, Caring for Covent Garden: A conservation and management guide & Westminster City Council’s 2004 Covent Garden Action Plan.
Trees and the Public Realm (Draft) Page 45 9. IMPLEMENTATION 119. The types of activity relevant to this document include the City Council’s annual tree planting and management programme, investment in parks, S106 agreements for street tree planting, or third party projects such as the Royal Parks Agency or Transport for London. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but an example of activities. Tree Planting Programme 120. An annual tree planting programme is devised by Council officers according to need, demand and physical constraints within the design and policy framework set out in this document. The programme is approved by the appropriate Cabinet Member. Coordination Mechanism 122. An officer review group, Public Realm Officer Group, will review any proposals for new street tree planting, including the annual tree planting programme, and put forward appropriate advice and recommendations to Members. 123. In some cases where proposals are put forward for tree planting, particularly in areas where new planting should be approached with caution, as outlined in this document, it may be necessary for a site visit with all interested parties to explore the possibilities on the ground before recommendations are made.
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