AROUND 40 per cent of trees recently inspected on the Isle of Wight as part of a highway survey were infected with ash dieback, it has been revealed.

The Isle of Wight’s highway service, Island Roads, recently conducted its annual survey of highway trees and found that, of the 418 trees inspected, 169 were identified as being infected with the disease.

Island Roads said it will now develop a plan for the best management of the infected trees.

Mark Roberts, Island Roads asset manager, said: “As expected, ash dieback has been found in our tree stock and will need careful management in the coming months and years.

“No one likes to see trees cut down, but safety has to be the primary consideration and it will unfortunately be necessary to remove trees that pose a risk to highway users. I am afraid that there will be other landowners who will need to take similar action because unfortunately trees do not recover from ash dieback.”

With the summer drawing to a close, Island Roads is reminding landowners of the need to manage trees so they do not pose a risk to road users. Advice in this respect is available in a leaflet entitled Inspect and Protect, available here.

Mr Roberts added: “Landowners must take certain action to protect members of the public – and themselves – from falling trees or branches.

“The Inspect and Protect leaflets outline these steps and we are always here to advise landowners if they are in any doubt how to safely manage trees on their land that may affect the highway.”

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