Machynlleth Street Trees - About the Scheme
How the Trees Were Checked
North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency's (NMWTRA) tree specialists regularly inspect trees using a digital system called Ezytreev. This system records details such as the type of tree, where it is, its size, its condition and any problems. Between 2018 and 2021, these checks showed that several trees in Machynlleth town centre had health or safety issues.
In 2022, NMWTRA Arboricultural Officer David Woodhouse completed a full report on the conditions of the trees along the A487 and A489 roads. Trees in the area are inspected every two years. During these checks, the officer looked at things like leaf coverage, dead branches, the strength of the trunk and the general health of each tree.
Deciding Which Trees Needed Removing
Some trees were found to be unsafe or too damaged to recover. For these trees, a list was made to show which ones needed to be removed. Alongside this, plans were made for planting new trees to replace them. The new trees will be planted in better conditions to help them live longer and stay healthier.
Protecting the Town's History
Much of Machynlleth town centre is in a conservation area. This includes the High Street, the area around the Clock Tower, and more than 30 listed buildings on Heol Maengwyn. Because of this, the project had to be carried out very carefully so that historic buildings and the natural environment were not harmed.
A special report was prepared to check for any risks before work began, and a planning application was submitted and approved to make sure everything met conservation rules.
Working With the Community
Throughout the project, Powys County Council spoke with important local groups, including Machynlleth Town Council. Many people were worried about losing mature trees, so the project team worked to explain why some trees needed to be removed and how the new trees would benefit the town. The replacement trees will be more suitable for the streets and will be planted in improved tree pits to give them the best chance to grow well.
Carrying Out the Work
The work was planned carefully to keep disruption as low as possible. Information was provided about which trees were being removed, their species and the reasons why. Work was timed to avoid causing problems for pedestrians, businesses and local events.
What the Scheme Achieves
Overall, the Machynlleth Street Trees Project provides a safe, balanced and thoughtful approach to looking after urban trees. It deals with safety problems, protects the town's historic character, and invests in a greener, healthier town centre for the future.
