4,000 people sign petition to save 'royal' lime trees in Walton-le-Dale

A petition set to save a row of ‘royal’ lime trees in Walton-le-Dale has reached almost 4,000 signatures.

The trees line the river Ribble opposite the Yew Tree Pub, near the Capitol Centre, and were planted in 1912 to commemorate the coronation of King George V.

But 18 of the trees are to be removed for the next phase of the Environment Agency’s multi-million-pound Preston & South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme which began in 2022. A public consultation on the plans for Walton-le-Dale took place last year and were formally approved by South Ribble Borough Council’s planning committee on March 27.

They are to be replaced with a concrete flood defence wall with glazing on top.

Petition creator Graham Dixon, a folk singer, said: “I am calling on our MP to request an independent review of the Victoria Road design. Preston deserves flood defences that are effective, environmentally responsible, and based on sound engineering — not a scheme that destroys heritage, disrupts communities, and ignores viable alternatives.The Royal Limes have stood for 112 years. They deserve better than this.”

You can sign the petition here

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We only remove trees if there is no alternative way of protecting communities from the devastating effects of flooding. Our flood scheme will reduce flood risk for hundreds of homes and businesses in Walton-le-Dale.

“We understand the importance of these lime trees to the local community. We’ve taken cuttings to propagate and replant at suitable local locations.

“Meanwhile, we've planted nearly 14, 000 trees and hedges at a ratio of 15:1 to replace trees that we regrettably have to remove to allow the scheme to be built."

On why the trees can’t be retained:

The EA said: “Extensive investigations were conducted into alternative designs that could preserve the Lime trees on Victoria Road. This included tree root radar surveys and engineering assessments. Unfortunately, due to the density and spread of the root systems, and the proximity of the trees to the required working area, it is not feasible to retain them.- The secant piled foundations required for the new wall will cut through the roots anchoring the trees. Contractors also require sufficient space for machinery to operate safely. As a result, the trees cannot be retained”

Why can’t they build around the trees?

The EA spokesman said: “Constructing defences in front of the trees, closer to the river, was considered. However, this option would require temporary obstruction of a section of the river, which would increase flood risk. It would also make the scheme financially unviable and cause serious environmental harm to the river, which is situated within a Marine Conservation Zone.”

Furthermore, the Environment Agency is unable to move works towards the pavement and carriageway. This is due to the large number of services that run adjacent to the existing wall, including a critical fibre optic communications cable of regional importance. Surveys also found that the tree roots appear to be causing damage to the pavement and pose a risk to the services beneath it. There is also evidence that the roots have caused damage to the existing surface water drainage system on Victoria Road.