The City of Stirling (CoS) has completed it public consultation on its Verge Treatment Policy (VTP).
City officers have now made their recommendations and the proposed changes to the VTP and it was on the Agenda of the Community Resources Committee meeting last night (28th July, 2015), for review by Councillors.
Normally the committees decisions would then go to the next full council meeting for final approval.
However, as Councillors have been away on their mid year break it was decided that they needed more time to study the proposed policy. So I has been moved forward to the next committee meeting which will be on Tuesday the 25th of August at 6pm.
This means that you can come to the next ordinary Council meeting on Tuesday 1st August 7pm if you would like to ask any questions (3 each).
The full report including public consultation results are on pages 16 – 45. But the actual proposed policy is on page 35. This is a very important policy as it affects the whole of the City of Stirling and our urban forest, please read it and contact Councillors to let them know what you think.
Questions that were raised around (my comments in red)
- Where there is no footpath nothing must be planted 2m from the curb? (are they now saying no native ground covers or lawn 2m from the curb?)
- Whether or not artificial turf should be allowed at all (heat issues, toxic and landfill issues. Will the city be responsible for removing artificial turf in new home owners don’t want it?)
- Should people with tiny verges be allowed to pave them completely? (Surely streets with tiny verges need trees and greenery more than most?)
- What happens to people who have already paved their verges? (One officer said that the rules on that were finalised in 2013, so that date should stick. We should be concerned that their could be a rush to pave verges if people think they have time before this updated version is finalised?)
- One Councillor mentioned that not many people knew about the surveys and questioned the reach of the advertising.
- What about a large verges? It use to be that you had to have everything 20cm or below from the curb, then 75cm for a bit (for traffic visablity), then you could have bigger plants and shrubs at the back. Surely mid-story plants (shrubs and hedges) for small birds and amenity/asthetic value should be encouraged, where possible?
It is unclear how Councillors may vote?
There was a petition submitted to council pushing to allow paving verges and lay artificial turf up to 75%. It is currently 30%, which officers recommend stays. All of the community consultation in the lead up to this review shows that most people don’t want that and the officers recommendations are against more paving.
However, Councillors have been known to vote against offers recommendations, so we need those concerned about urban greening to come to meetings and email Councillors.
FYI, the City of Bayswater recently approved verge paving, which was highly controversial.
Hope to see you at the next meetings
For the trees
Leisha Jack
Convenor
0448534742
