Council warned over 'dangerous' trees

Mary-Ann Murray who is manager at Hire & Supplies Ltd in Mill Lane was speaking out after one of the danger trees  toppled over at the weekend, crushing part of the yard’s new £25,000 fence and damaging a parked digger.

"If the tree had fallen the other way onto the road, it could’ve killed someone. If it broke through the top of a digger like that, what would it do to a car? The weekend’s storm hasn’t dug under the tree’s roots like that, they were already showing above ground. It was just a matter of time before it came down, " said Mary-Ann, who has been battling with Argyll and Bute Council to remove the trees that she fears are a serious safety risk.

Last year the council did remove some branches from the trees after she complained but that was not enough to make them safer, Mary-Ann told The Oban Times. Because the trees are on council land, only the council can maintain them.

The tall trees, which line part of Lochavullin Road, have been a headache for the tools business for years, looming large over its yard.

Two years ago, one of the tree fell and broke through a previous fence leaving a gap that allowed a break-in, said Mary-Ann. A £20,000 jeep and about £10,000 worth of goods were stolen, hitting the business hard.

After that, Hire & Supplies Ltd, which rents its premises from the council, put up a more solid fence to completely surround the yard for protection at its own expense. But panels on that fence now need to be replaced, says Mary-Ann, who is calling on the council to get it fixed and pick up the cost.

"One hundred per cent they should fix it and pay for it," she added.