Oak Trees Damaged During Work at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn
A recent development at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn has sparked outrage among locals, as it was revealed that two oak trees have been damaged during construction work for a new sterile services unit. According to a report by East Anglian Daily Press, the incident has led to calls for enforcement action to be taken.
The controversy began in December, when the hospital was given the go-ahead to fell eight trees to make way for the new unit. However, it has now emerged that two additional trees will have to be removed due to root damage caused during the work. Paul Brooks, director of estates and facilities at the QEH, described the incident as "distressing".
West Norfolk Council is now considering "enforcement options", while its tree officer Brian Ogden has warned that damaging the trees is "a criminal offence". This is not the first time a developer has faced prosecution for damaging tree roots in the area. In April, a developer was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £8,000 by magistrates after being prosecuted by the council for damaging the roots of trees bordering a new development at Docking, near Hunstanton.
According to Mr Ogden’s report, the QEH and its contractor McAvoy had submitted a tree protection plan as part of its application to build the new unit. However, despite this, excavations were carried out close to the oaks, resulting in a "huge loss of roots", which has rendered both trees "unsalvageable" and in need of removal on safety grounds.
The trees in question are described by Mr Ogden as "ecologically valuable" and "an important and longstanding part of the local landscape". When the hospital was originally constructed, the trees were designed to be an intrinsic part of the hospital’s design. An aerial view of the hospital taken shortly after its construction in the early 1980s shows the oaks in a prominent position.
The incident has raised concerns about the importance of protecting trees and the potential consequences of damaging them. As East Anglian Daily Press reports, Mr Ogden has expressed concern about the risk of sudden or partial failure of the trees, particularly during periods of high winds, which could pose a serious safety issue for staff, patients, and visitors to the hospital.
In response to the incident, the hospital has applied for formal permission to take down the trees, which "made a significant contribution to the local environment". The hospital has also announced plans to replant trees on the site under the guidance of the council’s arboriculturist.
A spokesman for West Norfolk Council said: "We are considering what will be the most appropriate course of action." Paul Brooks, director of estates and facilities at the QEH, said: "The removal of two trees from our site due to root damage as part of ongoing construction works for our central sterile services unit is distressing. To discover that this damage has been caused is upsetting and something we are acting upon to ensure no further damage is caused and that this is something that will not happen again in the future."
The hospital has stated that the new unit is needed because its existing sterile services department is built from the same crumbling concrete planks as the main hospital, which needs thousands of props to prevent its roof from collapsing and is due for a £1.5bn replacement. The sterilisation department would have to close unless a replacement building could be constructed, meaning operations would have to be cancelled.
As reported by East Anglian Daily Press, five objections were received to the original planning application, with some residents calling for the trees to be preserved. One objection stated that the trees were "irreplaceable", adding that it would take decades before new trees could support the creatures that the oaks currently support.
The incident highlights the importance of balancing development with environmental concerns and the need for careful planning and execution to avoid damage to trees and other natural features. As the situation continues to unfold, East Anglian Daily Press will provide updates on any further developments.
