Chesterfield council chops down '20-ft eyesore' dead tree left outside woman's home

Carol Booth, 57, claims Chesterfield Borough Council began chopping down the elm tree, in Eastwood Park, Hasland, which backs onto her property, 18 months ago.

She says the tree was then left because the council wanted to create a wood carving in the park – but ‘did not get round to it’.

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After we raised the matter with the council last week, Carol says parks teams arrived this morning (Wednesday, March 10) to remove the tree.

Chesterfield Borough Council said it had been unable to remove the tree in one go.

Carol, of Hoole Street, said: “Only railings separate my garden from the park and the tree has been like that for 18 months.

"But I have had problems from it for longer than that. For six or seven years the tree has been lifting up my garden.

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"The council told me the tree was there first. They were going to make a wooden carving out of it for the park. Apparently they were holding a consultation with people around here about that but I’ve not spoken to anyone who has been asked.”

Carol said the tree had caused major problems in her garden.

"Every year when I mowed the grass the lawn mower was on two wheels because the garden had been lifted up so much,” Carol added.

"They said once it was dead the roots would start to die down but there was no improvement.

"It has been also been a real eyesore and blocked out the sunlight. That was the reason I first complained about it.”

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said on Monday: “We trimmed back the Elm tree in Eastwood Park in order to ensure it was safe but due to the size of the tree we were unable to fully remove it.

"We have booked a specialist contractor to come and remove it from the park, this work should be complete in the next week.”

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