‘Killer tree’ close to claiming first victim

4:10pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

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A WINSFORD man is campaigning for the removal of a ‘killer tree’ after his wife was nearly crushed.

Mike Kennedy, chairman of the Grange Residents Association, wants the tree in Geneva Road felled after a huge bough came crashing to the ground just yards away from his wife Hilary.

“She was out walking the dog when this chap stopped to talk to her,” he said.

“As they were talking they heard a huge crack and this big branch fell down for no reason just 20 yards from them.

“If he hadn’t stopped Hilary she could have been under it – it would have killed her. She came home visibly shaken.”

Mike and Hilary walk their Cairn terrier Cassie past the tree every day, but the dog now refuses to pass it.

He added: “We have got one terrified little dog now, she refuses to go past it. Everytime we go near it now the dog wants to cross the road because she’s frightened to death.

“We call it the killer tree.”

Mike has contacted Vale Royal Borough Council who has been out to prune the branches, but Mike says it is not enough.

Mike said: “It’s a danger – somebody could be killed.

“It’s madness that it could just fall down when it wasn’t even windy, I have never known anything like it.

“I think the weight is just too much for it when it’s fully laden with leaves.”

Vale Royal Borough Council said that because the tree is on the high way it is the responsibility of Cheshire County Council.

A county council spokesman said: “This is the first that we have heard about the tree, but we will now send someone out to look at it and take any action if necessary.”

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