Fallen tree leads to safety fears
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Shannon Clare, who was playing in the garden before the tree fell GC27100
A GROUP of children in Carrickfergus narrowly escaped serious injury when a mature tree fell in the garden they were playing in minutes earlier. The 120-year-old tree which was approximately 30 feet in height suddenly fell on Sunday afternoon in the back garden of a resident in Prospect Grove.
The resident Tracey McAuley told The Advertiser & Gazette her children had returned to the house after playing in the garden only ten minutes before the tree fell.
She said she was thankful her children were not in the garden when the tree fell and the direction it fell had not caused her home damage.
This incident has led to fears in the neighbourhood that other mature trees in the street which are located closer to homes could cause substantial damage to houses and harm to residents.
Ms McAuley said: "My kids had only just come back to the house when the tree fell so it was lucky no one was hurt."
“It does highlight the dangers of the trees in the neighbourhood. I had someone look at the tree a few years ago and they said it was secure, but trees can change."
“I am especially concerned about a number of trees on the ground to the side of my bunglaow. There are two-foot holes dug around the base of the trees and I do not think they are secure at all. If one of them fell they would cause my house serious damage."
Ms McAuley's concern is shared by her neighbour Edward Duff who has a mature tree at the rear of his house.
Mr Duff said: "I have tried to get the tree cut down in the past but it has a protection order on it."
“This incident highlights the dangers we face as we don't know how safe these trees are and if they fall a certain direction they will damage our houses or cause someone serious injury."
At the time of going to press a representative from the Parks and Countryside Department was unavailable for comment.
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