TOWN councillors in Minehead were this week being asked to spend up to £8,000 on planting four trees in The Avenue.

They will replace three stumps of the species tilia cordata ‘streetwise’ and a fourth tree which was imminently due to be felled.

Council clerk Ben Parker said The Avenue was lined with mature lime and hornbeam trees and was a major feature of the town centre.

However, the trees were increasingly susceptible to windfall and disease due to their age, requiring replacement over time.

A lime tree near Foxes Lodge, in The Avenue, Minehead, which is due to be felled. PHOTO: MTC.
A lime tree near Foxes Lodge, in The Avenue, Minehead, which is due to be felled. PHOTO: MTC. ( )

Most, if not all of the existing trees in The Avenue were expected to need replacing in the next five to 20 years due to their maturity and health.

Mr Parker said they were currently the responsibility of Somerset Council, which had surveyed the trees and found many would need felling in the next few years, but it lacked finances and resources for any replanting.

Town councillors had already earmarked £6,000 for the 2024/25 financial year to replace the stumps of three street trees in The Avenue, but now a fourth outside Foxes Lodge required replacing, adding to the cost.

Mr Parker said the town council would take on responsibility for maintenance of the trees and potential replacement until they reached maturity at five to 10 years, after which the unitary authority would take them back.

He said before the four new trees could be planted the town council would need to sign a maintenance agreement accepting full responsibility for watering, maintaining, and potentially replacing them.