A MOTION calling on the district council to plant six new trees for every one it fells was defeated at last week’s full council meeting.
Labour leader Coun Michael Thompson and Coun Harrison Rone-Clarke (Rock Hill), also asked for a record to be kept for all the council-owned trees cut down.
Coun Thompson told members: “It’s important for the council to plant more trees if Bromsgrove is to become carbon-neutral.
“We don’t even need to plant great big trees either – they could be small ones.”
Members of the Conservative Party voted against the motion, saying the council actually cut down very few trees.
Members also added they felt the costs of the project had not been worked out.
Coun Adam Kent (Con, Wythall) said: “While we’re supportive of the idea we can’t actually back it because we don’t know how much it will cost and it’s unclear where we are planting.”
Speaking after its defeat Coun Rone-Clarke said: “I thought this would be a popular, cross-party motion.”
Conservative leader Coun Karen May said: “Over the last five years the council has planted approximately 200 specimen trees on our own land – for example in Sanders Park.
“We have also planted approximately 4,000 to 5,000 small hedgerows all over the district.”
