Tree Disease Spreading Widely and Quickly

A Wiltshire Council officer has said Ash Dieback is “spreading more widely and more quickly than we first thought.” Speaking at this evening’s meeting of Warminster Area Board, the officer said the majority of ash trees in Wiltshire will be dead within a decade. The local authority has already removed 1,600 trees in the last twelve months and is focusing on those adjacent to public highways. The officer added that his small team would then move to looking at public open spaces and rights of way but warned surveying these areas is a huge task. Landowners are responsible for removing any diseased trees from their land and therefore Wiltshire Council takes responsibility for any on its properties. However it is those along the highway network that present the greatest challenge for the council, which is expected to give more money to dealing with the problem in the new budget.