(Our reference 12051858) - Consultation About A Tree Causing Technical Issues on Meadowhead Roundabout, S8
This consultation starts on 06/09/2024 and closes on 27/09/2024.
The expected date of feedback to be published is 11/10/2024.
A Bhutan Pine, known as a Pinus Wallichiana, on the Meadowhead roundabout has been identified as causing technical issues which are impacting on the operating safety of the nearby pedestrian crossings.
An assessment carried out by our tree experts noticed that the tree is causing technical issues. Therefore, the tree has been recommended for replacement.
The council has received a number of complaints from the public around lack of co-ordination and poor operation of signals and crossings in this area and alternative means of managing the crossing safely have been explored but due to the proximity of the tree, wi-fi or new cabling options are not a possibility.
The issue has been discussed with technical traffic signal specialists and the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership and it has been agreed that the Council should consult the public on removal and replacement of the tree with compensatory planting elsewhere on the roundabout to enable the pedestrian crossings and associated technology to operate correctly.
Once removed, we propose to replace it with 3 trees in total. One Atlas Cedar, known as Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', and two Japanese Pagoda tree known as Styphnolobium japonicum, which we will use our best endeavours to plant at other points on Meadowhead Roundabout. The locations of the replacements on the roundabout have been chosen to not interfere with traffic signals. They have also been located to not interfere with the proposed changes to the roundabout as part of the sports ground planning permission and development. However, this may not always be possible in situations such as where there are underground services, cables, or if the site is not appropriate.
The species of these trees has been selected by our professional arboricultural inspectors as being a suitable highway tree species for this location.
More information about Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca') and Japanese Pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) is below. This has been taken from Page 122 and 313 of The Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure: A Guide for Specifiers.
Sjöman, H. and Hirons, A.D. (2019) The Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure: A Guide for Specifiers v1.3 Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure - Trees and Design Action Group (tdag.org.uk)