High winds forecast for Sunday
We promise not join the ‘Weathermaggedon‘ and ‘Snow bomb to hit Britain – we’ll tell you where‘ gang, but this public service announcement is aimed squarely at anyone who still has a trampoline in their garden after Storm Darragh.
There is a Met Office Yellow warning currently in place for high winds starting in the early hours of Sunday morning. Telford is right on the Western edge of it.
It’s not a named storm, and winds will not be as strong as they were during Storm Darragh but only this week we have seen trees, weakened by those high winds, come down on paths and roads.
This is your sign to prop up that wobbly fence panel, tie down your garden furniture, and secure your cardboard recycling.
Speaking of the damage caused by Storm Darragh, Michael Price, arboriculture manager at idverde said:
“This is one of the worst storms I have been involved in. The process of clearing these trees is ongoing and remains complex, with rigorous safety assessments required at each reported site.
“Our teams of skilled arborists are working tirelessly to get the borough free from storm damage as quickly and as safely as possible.
“I understand that frustrations may run high during this time but we must risk assess every situation we face day to day to get operations done safely so please bear with us.”
The process of removing a fallen or damaged tree can be complex and teams are doing everything they can to clear the debris safely and efficiently. Some of the largest trees that have fallen weigh between four and five tonnes and span 40 to 50 metres in height. The most dangerous situations are being prioritised and crews are making steady progress with four crews working across the borough to ensure all areas are attended to. With the ongoing work, and potential for further damage this Sunday, the Council will continue work over the coming weeks to complete the work.
Members of the public are thanked for their role in helping to report fallen trees, which has been invaluable in ensuring a quicker response. For those who have already reported a fallen tree, the Council urges patience as they process each case in order of severity.
Residents can report any new non-emergency tree-related issues on the Council’s website at https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20425/trees_hedges_and_woodland/3472/trees_blocking_a_path_or_road
If they’re unable to report it online, they can call 01952 384384 for non-emergency tree issues, or call the out-of-hours number on 03451 559955 for emergencies.
Pic: Telford Live
